Developers today unveiled their plans for the massive expansion of Burgess Hill with 3,500 new homes.

The West Burgess Hill Company held a "stakeholder group meeting" with parties who may be affected by the proposal, including community and environmental groups, business representatives and councillors.

Bosses from the company - a joint venture between Wates Homes and Sunley - met the groups at Brinsbury College, near Pulborough.

The proposal is for a "sustainable extension" westwards of Burgess Hill. It will include affordable and "key worker" housing for people such as police officers and nurses.

There will also be 500,000 sq ft of employment space, educational and health facilities and an improved public transport infrastructure.

The proposal does not yet have planning permission, although the West Burgess Hill Company owns the land.

Director Martin Wilkes said: "We want to hear the widest range of views on supporting, sustaining and extending the success of the Burgess Hill community."

Burgess Hill was identified for development because of the availability of land and the town's economic success.

Mr Wilkes said the company expected opposition. He said: "There will be a significant group of people who won't want to see this happen for a many and varied raft of reasons."

If planning permission is eventually granted he hopes work would start in 2006.