Plans to regenerate a derelict development site are progressing.

Worthing Borough Council could team up with national housing and regeneration agency Homes England to transform Teville Gate in the town centre.

In recent months the council's officers have been discussing a potential sale with Homes England and the agency has now confirmed it is willing to seek approval to buy the freehold of the site, subject to due diligence.

The proposal will be discussed by Worthing’s Cabinet on Tuesday.

Teville Gate is earmarked for a minimum of 250 homes in Worthing’s local plan but has been under used for many years.

The council wants the site to be used both for new homes that will be available for Worthing residents to buy and for social housing to help those on the town’s register who need somewhere to live.

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Currently more than 350 local people are having to be housed by the council outside the borough because of a lack of accommodation.

If the committee supports the idea, officers will work with Homes England over the coming months to conclude the sale. Homes England will then work with the council to design a scheme and identify a development partner for the project as well as potential tenants for any planned commercial units on the site.

The council will also work with HMRC to find new parking spaces for those who currently use the temporary car park to the north of the Teville Gate site, which will form part of the redevelopment.

A contract for the sale of Teville Gate could be completed by the end of the year.

The council said Homes England has signalled its commitment to work to ensure the new development ties in with the council's aspirations for active travel and more green spaces.

Councillor Caroline Baxter, Worthing’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Teville Gate is a key site in the town for regeneration. It has sat derelict despite multiple historic plans and promises for development.

“It’s vital that we act now to harness the huge potential of the land with an exciting, sustainable vision to benefit the whole community.”

The council's cabinet will discuss Teville Gate at its 6.30pm public meeting on Tuesday, September 12, at the Shaftesbury Room at Worthing Leisure Centre.