The Brighton Centre opened on the seafront in 1977

The centre, one of the UK's major concert and conference venues, is to be demolished in 2006, with a rebuilt centre set to open by 2008.

Brighton and Hove City Council is to hold a six-week consultation period to ask the public for their views.

It was decided last year the centre should be replaced as it was seen as having become out of date.

'Extremely exciting project'

The Brighton Centre, which is on the famous resort's seafront, opened in 1977 and has hosted concerts by some of the most famous names in music.

Among the stars set to come to the venue this year are Westlife, the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis.

It has also become one of the UK's main venues for political party conferences, set to host Labour's conference this September, and is also home to the Brighton Bears basketball team, newly-crowned national champions.

When plans to demolish the centre and rebuild it were first announced in March 2003 the council said the building had been right for the 1970s but no longer met the city's needs.

The council has not yet decided on exactly what form the new centre will take and is to invite "expressions of interest" from potential builders and designers from July.

Westlife are performing at the centre in June

But early plans are to go on show in the city's Churchill Square shopping centre from Friday.

Councillor Gill Mitchell said: "This heralds the start of our plans to replace the existing Brighton Centre with a new state-of-the-art conference centre.

"As yet we do not know the precise location of the new Brighton Centre.

"It may be wholly or partly on the site of the existing centre, or in close proximity elsewhere on the seafront."

Cllr Mitchell said the plans would also include suggested improvements for areas of the city centre around the building, improved public transport and new public spaces.

She said: "This will be an extremely exciting project that will help shape the future of our city and I hope as many people as possible will take part."