A new railway car park could be in place within a year after an agreement was reached to transfer ownership of nearby land.

Network Rail has confirmed it has agreed terms to buy the almost five-acre site near Uckfield railway station.

If the deal goes ahead and the plan receives planning permission, the rail authority expects to start work on the 139-space car park early next year.

It is hoped that the facility could be up and running by April 2014.

The land, on the west side of the town’s High Street, is currently owned by British Railways Board (Residuary), and was the site of the town’s original railway station before it closed in 1991.

A new car park was the favoured option in a public consultation held last year which asked people what improvements they wanted to see in Uckfield.

It will take shape alongside pavement improvements, traffic light modifications, improved facilities at Uckfield bus station and the installation of real-time bus timetable information boards.