Developers have unveiled plans to transform a 1,500-acre wasteland into a nature park and visitor centre as big as the Eden Project.

The redesign of Pebsham Countryside Park, between Hastings, Bexhill and Crowhurst, could bring in millions of pounds for the local economy.

The first stages of the work on the reserve, a sports and arts centre and new woodland, will be completed within two or three years if the proposals are given the go-ahead.

TK Associates, the consultancy appointed to consult with the pubic on the park, said if the money was available the long-term goal would be a an "ambitious development" on the scale of the Eden Project, which attracts 1.2 million visitors a year and is estimated to have brought more than half a billion pounds into Cornwall.

The park would be split into a northern nature reserve, potentially called Combe Haven, and a southern area for sports and events including a cafe, visitor centre, sheltered areas and picnic spots.

There is the possibility of an ecologically-friendly art-house, zip wires, an energy park, a wind farm, a llama park, rock climbing, dry-skiing, a BMX centre and a water maze.

The proposals for Pebsham were unveiled at Bexhill College last night by TK Associates, which has quizzed more than 2,000 people in East Sussex over five months.

Seventy-six per cent said they were in favour of building the park.

But 63 per cent in nearby Crowhurst were against and voiced fears over the threat to the tranquillity of their village.

Peter Jones, leader of East Sussex County Council, said: "It will be a substantial and magnificent park and leisure area for people.

"It is very much up to the focus group that has been appointed by the council to come up with ideas of how it's all going to work and put that out to consultation.

"It is going to be a nice big area. One of the things we looked at when we first drew up the five-point plan was having a large lake. There are all sorts of things that could be done."

The project, which could take 15 years to complete, is a collaboration between East Sussex, Hastings and Rother councils. The early stages are part-financed by EU cash.

The Eden Project cost about £86 million to build and employs about 500 permanent staff.

Crowhurst parish councillor Charles Pearce said: "People in the village are concerned that the area close to the park is kept more for conservation and wildlife rather than recreation.

"It must be understood that this project is going to be community driven. It will be what people want in that park."

Some respondents to the consultation asked for wildlife watching facilities and a sports area for BMX riding, skateboarding, archery, model aircraft and bouldering, a form of climbing.

Ideas rejected included a swimming lake, golf, motor-biking, kite buggying and hunting.

The consultation closes on March 22. Email pebshamviews@tkassociates-uk.com or write to Pebsham Views, TK Associates, 16 Florence Road, London W5 3TX.

The consultation report and design ideas should be available from tomorrow at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/pebsham/ For more details, call Toni Roberts at troberts@hastings.gov.uk or 01424 451432.