PART of a historic town's prime shopping zone- compared to a Third World site by a community leader - looks set to undergo a massive revamp.The multi-million pound development for a neglected corner of Sudbury's town centre has been laid out by independent experts in a bid to sway shoppers away from larger towns and cities.

PART of a historic town's prime shopping zone- compared to a Third World site by a community leader - looks set to undergo a massive revamp.

The multi-million pound development for a neglected corner of Sudbury's town centre has been laid out by independent experts in a bid to sway shoppers away from larger towns and cities.

The ambitious proposals for St Peter's Quarter aims to create greater links with other parts of the town through a mixed use area of major shops and more than 100 new homes.

A public park, described as a “fulcrum” of the development, is also in the pipeline, set out in a £25,000 Civic Trust feasibility study for the Francis Road and Hamilton Road areas.

The plans, which will be discussed by Babergh District Council next month before developers are approached, were last night welcomed.

Tom McConnell project officer of the Sudbury Market Town Partnership, said: “The report strongly suggests a mixed development in that part of town would do a great deal of good.

“We need to attract major players to the town to keep shoppers in Sudbury rather than have them going elsewhere.

“The area is currently a Third World site and for a town with the strength and wealth of Sudbury, it is completely unacceptable.”

If the plans were accepted, Hamilton Road would become a new shopping street while Lloyds Bank gardens would be transformed into an “exciting” public space.

Although the cost of the complex is not included in the Civic Trust's report, it is thought that a number of developers would be approached.

Mr McConnell added: “This is a report done by the most respected body in town redevelopment in the country - the Civic Trust.

“They have taken this report very seriously and done a lot of work to compile this very strong and completely independent endorsement.”

A spokesman for the Civic Trust said: “The town centre is relatively buoyant, there are few empty premises, there is interest from potential occupiers and there is investment already happening about.

“Our vision for the St Peter's Quarter is a new mixed use development that is alive during the day and into the evening, extends and enhances the existing range of shops and other attractions in Market Hill and reinforces the appeal of Sudbury town centre as a whole.”

dave.gooderham@eadt.co.uk