Hundreds of at-risk jobs were finally axed yesterday after pharmaceutical giant Novartis confirmed it was transferring Sussex work abroad.

The multinational’s Horsham site will be massively scaled back, with 550 posts going.

It came as a developer announced plans to create as many as 500 new jobs with the redevelopment of a shopping centre.

Performance Retail Limited Partnership (PRLP) wants to open up to 20 new shops in a redesigned western wing of Eastbourne’s Arndale Centre.

A public consultation on the £65 million makeover plans is expected in the autumn prior to the submission of a planning application in early 2012.

The developer says that, subject to planning permission, the new extension could be open by 2015.

But before a planning application can be prepared, agreement needs to be reached on measures to improve the environment around the bus interchange in Terminus Road.

PRLP and Eastbourne Borough Council said they are working closely to make sure any changes to the current interchange arrangements are integrated into the plans.

Council leader David Tutt said that extending and improving the town’s main shopping centre was crucial to the economic development of the town.

He said: “By creating larger and more flexible retail units we will be able to attract more big-name brands, and with them far g reater numbers of shoppers, which in turn will help sustain the wider retail sector throughout the town and create new jobs.

“The council supports the plans and looks forward to PRLP submitting a full planning application in 2012.”

Novar tis, the largest employer in Horsham, confirmed to workers yesterday that their jobs were to go.

The company, which has a total workforce of 950 at the site, said it would keep its respiratory research department open, meaning at least 330 jobs are secure.

A spokesman said that those employees whose roles were being scrapped would be supported with some being offered alternative jobs.