The housing group – which was chosen as the preferred development partner by Crawley Borough Council – will deliver a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on the 1.85-acre site in Telford Place, which is currently used as a temporary car park.

Around half of the apartments will be available for private sale, while the remainder will consist of shared ownership homes and 87 council homes charged at affordable rent.

Work on the site is expected to start in early 2019, with a planning application likely to be submitted by the end of the year.

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Ian Hagger, regional new business director at Clarion Housing Group, said: "We are excited to be part of this ambitious town centre project and look forward to working with the council to transform Telford Place into a high-quality housing development, which will be at the heart of a thriving community.”

The development is part of a multi-million-pound town centre regeneration project led by Crawley Borough Council, which plans to develop at least 1,000 new homes by 2030 through the £60m Crawley Growth Programme.

Michael Jones, cabinet member for housing at Crawley Borough Council, added: “This proposed housing development would be the biggest in the town centre and it’s great to see that the project is progressing for what promises to be a high-quality, prestigious development.

“It is part and parcel of this council’s ambition to deliver more than 1,000 new council homes for people here in the borough over the next few years.

“I look forward to working with Clarion Housing Group as [it brings] these major plans forward.”