Babergh's Strategy Committee will be meeting this afternoon to discuss the future of the town's bus station while promising to work with the town council, local interest groups and the public to produce definitive proposals by the beginning of next year.

Nick Ridley, chairman of the committee, said the next six months offered a chance to really listen to what the community wanted.

He said: "I am aware there have been concerns over discussions at an officer level on what could be done with the land, which suggested one view had been preferred over the other.

"Although that was never the case this is a chance for everyone to start again in an open and honest way."

If approved at today's meeting a working group will launch a two stage listening process.

The first will involve consultations with Sudbury Town Council followed by other groups including the Sudbury Market Town Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce. Exhibitions and consultations will then take place with the public to get feedback for the final plans.

Mr Ridley added: "Nothing has been ruled in or out. If we get the go-ahead this will be the biggest and best chance that Sudbury people have had in years to shape part of their town for the future."

Sue Brotherwood, clerk of Sudbury Town Council, said the town would welcome the new beginning.

She said: "This is such an important issue for the town and in the past we were hearing things second or third hand from Babergh. Now we can all wipe the slate clean and set out what will be the best option in a much more open way with each other and the public."

The town council's long term vision for the area is to build a retail centre to develop a new hub in the town centre rather then build more shopping facilities on the edge of Sudbury.

This would include shops, flats, open space and a pedestrian link to Market Hill as well as the potential for a cinema.