DETAILS of a £12 million town centre shopping development have been unveiled.

Negotiations are under way with a major high street company, yet to be named, to be the flagship store.

A planning application has been submitted for the three-storey development on 55,000 sq ft at Queen's Square, Crawley.

It includes a pub, restaurant and two or three smaller stores which will create dozens of new jobs.

The Commission for New Towns and West Sussex County Council, joint owners of the site, say it will be a prime retail and leisure development.

Crawley-based Crest Nicholson Properties Ltd, which submitted the application to Crawley Council, hopes to start work at the end of the year.

Spokesman Peter Ross said it is hoped shops will be trading by Christmas, 2000.

He said: "We believe this new site will be a major asset to the town.

"We are not looking to take business or trade away from other shopping developments in the town centre. We are simply doing everything we can to get more people coming here."

But other traders are concerned about the impact and say smaller stores will be affected.

Crawley Council is also concerned about the proposals.

Aspokesman said: "Although there have been talks about putting some sort of building on the open area we are not sure it should be as large as this.

"A lot of shoppers actually like the open area, as it provides a good central point for the town."

Planners will discuss the application next month.

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