Around £150 million of funding secured by Greater Brighton is helping to transform the region and is creating thousands of jobs.
A report for Greater Brighton Economic Board details how the investment has kick-started multimillion-pound regeneration projects in and around Brighton, Newhaven, Shoreham, Worthing, Lewes and Burgess Hill.
When complete, these projects will create an estimated 14,000 jobs, more than 8,000 homes and 450,000m2 of employment space – backed by approximately £376m of public and private investment. Successes include:
- Greater Brighton funding allowed Digital Capital Brighton to support the world’s first 5G-powered music festival. Artists at three top venues performed together in a pioneering live event.
- In Worthing, the redevelopment of the Teville Gate, Union Place and Decoy Farm sites for new homes and businesses are moving forward, with the help of £10.4m of funding secured by Greater Brighton.
- The 800m seafront boardwalk to Black Rock in Brighton has been completed thanks to £12.1m of funding. The improved sea wall is due to be completed by July as part of a plan to regenerate a site that has lain empty for 40 years.
- An investment of £14.9m is helping unlock the potential of sites in Burgess Hill, Wivelsfield and Goddards Green. The work includes improving the A2300 corridor and Wivelsfield railway station, the redevelopment of the Martlets shopping centre and the creation of 49000m2 of employment space.
- Flood defence works at Railway Quay in Newhaven have been completed, as part of the £1.5m investment in the key brownfield site. Plans are now underway to convert the former technical college building on the site into a hub for maritime and sustainable technology businesses.
- A £3m grant to support the restoration of Brighton’s Grade I-listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre has led to roofing and structural repairs being completed. The project – which includes the installation of new fittings to match those used more than 200 years ago – is expected to be completed in September.
Greater Brighton has also published its annual report, detailing how it and its partners are helping the region to lead in the fight against climate change, while working to maximise government investment as part of the Levelling Up agenda.
A Greater Brighton Economic Board spokesperson said:
“Greater Brighton’s efforts to secure government funding is generating more investment, more jobs and more prosperity for the region.
“These projects are already making a real difference in our communities – and much more is still to come.”
The Greater Brighton City Region has been established since 2014. It consists of Brighton & Hove City Council, Adur District Council, Lewes District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Arun District Council, Worthing Borough Council, University of Sussex, University of Brighton, Greater Brighton MET, Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership, Adur & Worthing Business Partnership and South Downs National Park Authority.
Photo: Decoy Farm