The Herald revealed last week how Eastbourne Borough Council had to sever negotiations with developers Lend Lease after a European court ruling affecting competition.

The council must now put the project out to tender to find a development partner and that news has been welcomed by Green Party members locally.

The party's spokesperson Clive Gross said the Greens had always wanted to see the scheme go out to tender and had first made that call in 2005 when it launched its campaign against a Clone Town redevelopment.

Mr Gross said, "We are delighted the redevelopment of our town centre will now be put out to open tender and regret the council waited to be forced by new European competition rules to take this action rather than use common sense and do it from the outset.

"This project is far too important for the long-term viability of Eastbourne to be left to cosy relationships between both sides on the borough council and a single pre-selected developer.

"We cannot afford to have those elected to serve the best interests of our town lamely lead by the company that stands to make the most profit from the scheme as happened with Carillion in Sovereign Harbour."

Mr Gross said Eastbourne Green Party members are now calling on full public scrutiny of the tendering process to ensure it is not just a box ticking exercise that will end up with the same development partner back in place without any true competition for the project.

He also said as part of the tendering process, Eastbourne Greens want to see a requirement for the council to select the most sustainable scheme for the town and not just the cheapest, that any development plan is Carbon Neutral and incorporates solar and wind energy generation and a commitment to provide 30 per cent of affordable rent business units in any new development reserved for local independent retailers – such as Bookstack – so they can compete alongside national chain stores.

The party also wants to see a requirement that the new town centre development focuses on attracting customers via sustainable means of transport and that a new public transport hub is included in the scheme, increased priority for pedestrians and cyclists, further pedestrianisation and new public open spaces to reduce traffic and improve safety in the town centre.

Mr Gross added, "Rather than seeing this as an inconvenience or delay, the council should see the tendering process as a last opportunity to ensure we get the best and highest quality for the town that we deserve, not just the scheme we are given.

"If a delay of six months results in us getting a landmark sustainable development that secures our retail standing for the next 25 or more years, it will certainly have been worth it."