New shops, a bus station and dozens of new homes could transform a town centre.

Council officers have been given the task of drawing up a blueprint for the development of central Eastbourne.

Up to 40 shops could help regenerate the town's economy and create jobs.

Beryl Healy, leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said the planned expansion would go towards revitalising the town and bringing in "better quality retailers".

Owners of independent businesses support the idea but want guarantees they will not be shut out in favour of big-name shops.

Andrew Stuart, chairman of the Eastbourne and Wealden branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "One of the problems is a lot of this development has been undertaken by a Local Strategic Partnership and we have been totally shut out.

"We don't have anyone on the partnership who will represent owners of small businesses."

Land between the railway station and Arndale shopping centre has been identified as a likely space to site more shops, according to the Eastbourne Borough Plan, a document plotting developments in the town over the next ten years.

The plan points out Eastbourne is losing out to larger shopping hubs in Brighton and Tunbridge Wells, which have many more high street names.

Transport has long been considered inadequate, with the central bus lane nicknamed Diesel Alley by shoppers.

The plan states: "Improvement of the town centre is inextricably linked to resolving these transport problems.

"As a first step it is important to look at measures which reclaim the town centre for pedestrians."

A bus station near the centre could help draw waiting buses away from the centre.

More than 10,000 people are employed in the town centre but pockets of poverty mean the area is one of the most deprived in East Sussex.

Initiatives to bring housing and commercial properties up to scratch have been running for some time, particularly along Seaside Road.

About 200 homes have also been earmarked for the area.

Many would come from revamping properties and taking over empty or unused homes.