Part One: Today we outline how the local plan wants to modernise how we spend our time away from our offices or factories.

Shopping There has been a rapid growth in out-of-town shopping centres following the relaxation of planning controls in the Eighties. But it is a policy that has been reversed in recent years with the Government trying to encourage new development to remain in the town centres.

The plan insists any new retail development must support and enhance existing shops and parades.

For example, developers behind the proposed foodstore at Brighton station will have to demonstrate it will not prejudice the viability of other shops nearby, particularly those in London Road.

Out-of-town development will not be permitted unless a local retail outlet is needed for an outlying neighbourhood and no other site is available.

A recent consultation on Retail and Town Centres showed people in Brighton and Hove strongly resisted further out of centre developments such as large food superstores and retail warehouses which were seen as a threat to the vitality of existing centres.

Failure to address this issue could lead to an increase in distances travelled for shopping purposes, increased car usage, and a decline in Brighton and Hove's status as a regional shopping centre.

Despite these concerns, the plan recognises some DIY superstores sell bulky goods which can mean access and delivery problems in town centres stores.

New out-of-town stores will be directed to existing retail locations or locations that benefit from good public transport, are adjacent to other retail and leisure facilities and are served by surrounding residential areas.

The plan aims to ensure a good mix of shops, restaurants and services within the town centre to maintain a healthy level of activity in both the daytime and evening in order to draw pedestrians into the area.

Tony Mernagh, town centre manager for Brighton, welcomed the council's efforts to discourage out-of-town shopping.

He said: "We have 1,338 shops in the town centre and to keep those alive and healthy and viable we cannot have out-of-town shopping centres taking customers away."

The plan also aims to protect local shopping parades by not allowing existing shops to close for residential use and only allowing changes of use where such a change was necessary for economic reasons.

A recent focus group expressed concern at the loss of corner shops, particularly in the Hanover area.

There are also measures to address the damage caused to North Street in recent years following the opening of Churchill Square and the closure of some banks.

The council wants to attract large non-food shop units to help anchor the western end of North Street and encourage people to walk from Western Road towards the North Laine area. A consultation revealed people felt there was a need for more High Street names and in particular a major new department store.

In future developers proposing major shopping developments will also be required to introduce environmental improvements such as children's play facilities.

The plan welcomes the proposed redevelopment of the gasworks in Hove as a chance to enhance the area. It stressed there must be good links with George Street to encourage linked shopping trips rather than one-stop shopping trips by car.

Pubs In addition to improving leisure facilities, the local plan also outlines the council's efforts to make the town centre feel safer for residents, particularly at night.

New policies are being proposed to control the number, size, location and management of pubs and clubs following concerns about the large number of venues clustered together.

In future any new bar, pub, or club of a certain size would not be permitted to open within 400m of a similar establishment, next to residential accommodation or at a location where it was likely to cause an increase in noise and disturbance.

The plan also proposes an enlarged hotel "core zone".