The Brighton Centre should be bulldozed, a city-wide tramway network set up and more cheap homes built, according to the South-East's planning gurus.

In a far-reaching report published yesterday, the South East England Development Agency (Seeda) has come up with a string of recommendations.

Other plans for Brighton and Hove include: Better training in creative industries, tourism, healthcare and education; unlocking Shoreham airport and harbour for industry; investing in private rented accommodation; and giving local people a louder voice in decisions that affect their community.

But the key aim is the demolition of the ageing Brighton Centre, a recommendation that has won plaudits from city leaders.

The team want to see the seafront venue replaced with world-class conference facilities to make it a focal point for the cultural and leisure regeneration of the city.

The city's transport network is described as overburdened and a tram system is highlighted as a possibility for the future.

Low-cost housing is now increasingly being seen as the only way Brighton and Hove can solve the problem of accommodating its workers, many of whom have been priced out of the market.

In East Sussex, one of the highest priorities is to reinstate the rail line between Lewes and Uckfield, a move that would improve access to Hastings and Bexhill and enable their economies to grow.

Rail links should also be improved along the coast from Brighton to Hastings.

The report highlights the county's position at the top of most indication tables of deprivation.

It says Newhaven port should expand with better links up to Gatwick, improvements are needed to the A21, A259 and A27 and an international centre of excellence in management and technology education should be set up.

In West Sussex, the report focuses on an "urgent need" to revive Shoreham, Littlehampton and Bognor.

It also highlights the need to dovetail the boom in industry in Crawley and Horsham with better homes for workers, as well as removing bottlenecks at Arundel, Worthing and Chichester.

One of the most controversial issues brought up is the proposed second runway at Gatwick.

According to Seeda, the airport is not fulfilling its potential and the economic impact of both having and not having a second runway needs to be assessed.