91Èȱ¬

Health chiefs have put forward £400m plans to replace "shocking" Victorian buildings at a Brighton hospital.

The trust that runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital wants to build a 12-storey building with about 400 beds and an underground car park.

The proposal, which also includes a helicopter landing pad, has been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council for planning approval.

Chief executive Duncan Selbie said it was important the work goes ahead.

He said: "The buildings we want to replace were opened 20 years before Florence Nightingale entered nursing.

"They're quite shocking and should have been replaced a decade ago."

He added: "I think we have put in a cracking plan and I am very hopeful that the planners will agree."

If planning permission is granted, construction work would start late next year.