A new environmentally-friendly head office will be built at Vicarage Lane close to the current site, which will be rebuilt.

Councillors made the decision at a cabinet meeting this morning (Wednesday).

Cllr Bob Standley, cabinet member for finance and assets, said, "For too long we have been operating from two headquarters which is an inefficient use of resources especially given rising fuel and energy costs.

"There is still much work to be done as we seek to finalise the exact location in Vicarage Lane.

"We intend to keep any disruption to our partners on the Vicarage Lane site, as well as our own council operations, to a minimum.

"We will be working closely with the Hailsham Masterplan as we bring these arrangements forward."

The new HQ is expected to be completed by 2012, and it could cost up to £12 million.

The decision will come as a relief to the 200 people who currently work out of the Vicarage Lane offices.

Alternatives considered were a single-site building at Crowborough and a new purpose-built office in Maresfield.