Four developers have been shortlisted for a £40 million scheme to provide hundreds of jobs and homes on the site of an old fruit and veg market.

Brighton and Hove City Council and the University of Brighton want the area in Circus Street, Kemp Town, to be transformed into a new university library and teaching space, housing including affordable homes, commercial offices, workspace for creative industries, shops and restaurants.

It is thought the site, which encompasses the former wholesale fruit and vegetable market, the NCP car park and the universitys Circus Street annexe building at the eastern end of Brightons city centre, could yield about 800 jobs and up to 150 homes.

After receiving 13 initial expressions of interest, the council has asked four developers to submit detailed proposals by December 19.

They are the Dartford-based Cathedral Group, which wants to use architects John McAslan & Partners; The Places for People Group, which has signed up r3architects; Taylor Woodrow Developments, which has brought on board Brighton architects LCE Archimed; and Vinyl Factory/Resolution Property, which wants to use Munkenbeck and Marshall Architects.

The council hopes to choose a final scheme by next April so work on the development could start in March 2007 and finish in 2009.

The requirements for the site are based on an Urban Capacity Study jointly commissioned by the university and council in 2004. The council is preparing a Supplementary Planning Document to give more detailed planning advice on the development of the site.

Councillor Simon Burgess, chairman of the project board managing the redevelopment, said: "This is an opportunity to regenerate this site and the surrounding area with a scheme that will be a real landmark in terms of good quality urban design and sustainable development."

Rod Mallinder, of the University of Brighton, said: "Over the past ten years we have invested more than £100 million in our estate.

"The project at Circus Street is an exciting opportunity to regenerate and bring high quality design to the area."

Thursday, December 1, 2005