Brighton and Hove Liberal Democrat Councillors are calling for the St James's Street area to be formally designated as the city's 'gay village'.

Until now the area has not been recognised as such in planning terms, but the Councillors want to see the authority's new planning document, the Core Strategy,  amended to reflect this status.

The Core Strategy will define the council's planning policies for the next few decades and will act as a blueprint for the city. The final strategy is due for adoption by Councillors in December.

The Core Strategy makes a number of designations for areas in the city, such as the cultural quarter. By doing this it encourages developments which are sympathetic to this use.

Previously, the growth of the area as the city's gay area has taken place without it being part of previous planning strategies.

Lib Dem group leader, Cllr Paul Elgood said:
"The St James's Street area has never been formally acknowledged as the 'gay village', but in practice it has been seen as this for decades.

"Formal designation in planning terms will help continue to see this area grow and attract new businesses and opportunities. It will also acknowledge the particular issues in the area, for example the need for community safety measures such as decent lighting and safe streets.

"We want the area to be more than a cluster of gay businesses but that it is part of the city's planning strategy for the next few decades.

"What we are talking about is the council policy finally catching up with reality. We all know the area as the gay village, it is time the council did too."