Eastbourne Borough Council has granted planning permission for proposals from Prudential Assurance for a new cinema and retail units at Sovereign Harbour on the outskirts of the town.

The officer’s report recommended approval, subject to a number of conditions including restrictions on the goods permitted to be sold but the planning committee decided against any restrictions. It also justified the decision because the Prudential had found no existing preferable site in the town centre.

Legal & General, which recently submitted detailed plans for the long-awaited redevelopment of the Arndale shopping centre in the centre of Eastbourne, said it was now reconsidering its own plans.

Simon Russian, senior fund manager for retail development at Legal & General, said the planning committee's decision went against town centre first policy included in the NPPF saying, "We are considering what our current position is at the moment. We are very concerned and are weighing up our options."