Crawley Borough Council's Cabinet endorsed the cross-party members’ selection panel’s view that Stanhope had made the strongest case of the shortlisted companies to develop the retail and leisure-led regeneration scheme.
The cabinet recommended that "development partner" status be awarded to Stanhope for the next phase of Town Centre North by Full Council at its meeting on Wednesday July 18.
If approved, the council will work with Stanhope to develop its ideas for the site and a planning application would be expected in the summer of 2013.
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Councillor Claire Denman, Cabinet member for Planning and Economic Development, said: "Town Centre North is hugely important to the quality and prosperity of the town centre. It’s not just about new shops and leisure activities; it's the full regeneration package including employment and training, a quality environment and the opportunity for new residential development.
"Stanhope impressed us with their vision for Town Centre North and also their desire to work with existing businesses, the local community and the public sector to improve existing areas such as Queens Square, The Broadway and Crawley Station.
"The first phase of Town Centre North is due to be on-site soon and with Stanhope’s determination to submit a planning application for the second phase in 2013, we are feeling confident about the future."
Phase one of Town Centre North, on the former Sussex House site at the northern end of the High Street, is being developed by Land Securities and St James’s Development. This will include a hotel, supermarket, cafés, restaurants and a car park.
(CD/GK)
