Ministers encourage Greater Brighton ‘eco-tech’ region
Proposals to promote Greater Brighton as a place for jobs and business growth have won backing from the government.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg named Brighton and Hove in a speech last night (Monday 18 February) as one of 20 areas shortlisted to be part of the government’s “city deal” programme.
The aim of the city deal programme is to make it easier for councils and business leaders to boost the local economy.
It also recognises that local economies are not confined to council boundaries.
The Greater Brighton city deal bid involves four councils
- Brighton and Hove City Council
- Lewes District Council
- Adur District Council
- Worthing Borough Council
While East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council are not directly involved, they are believed to be supportive.
The bid also involves the Coast to Capital (C2C) Local Enterprise Partnership. The local enterprise partnership (LEP) is made up of public and private sector organisations stretching from Brighton and Hove to Croydon including the Gatwick Diamond area. It also covers West Sussex.
The Greater Brighton proposals include creating an “eco tech” hub, drawing on one of the most highly skilled workforces in Britain.
The aim is to improve job prospects, earnings and business opportunities across the area.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Cllr Jason Kitcat said: “This is a major step forward, giving us the opportunity to make a big difference to the city and the region.
“We are rightly very ambitious and I am delighted the city region’s importance to the national economy has been recognised.
“This status complements the super connected city work which is already under way after our bid for ultrafast broadband last year.
“We will continue to work hard with our partners to secure a deal which will strengthen our economy and nurture local business.”
Among the proposals in the bid are
- The revival of sites earmarked previously for development, but which have stalled. These could include Toads Hole Valley and Preston Barracks in Brighton and Hove, Shoreham Harbour and Newhaven port, all of which could bring in £1 billion of private investment.
- Local flexibility on taxes and red tape to help smaller and medium-sized businesses, with a particular focus on fostering our growing eco-technologies industry
- A board to co-ordinate investment from public and private sources to refresh important projects such as the Brighton Centre and other developments which could create thousands of jobs across the city region
Sussex University and Brighton University are among the organisations backing the city deal bid.
Other supporters include business associations and key companies looking to invest in the area such as Eon, American Express, Ricardo and EDF.
John Peel, the chairman of C2C, said: “This is good for the whole area covered by the LEP and will encourage and underpin business growth in the region.
“It also shows very clearly the strength in partnership and collaboration with our private and public sector partners.”
Gary Peters, the chairman of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, called it “a terrific move forward for the whole region”.
He said: “This deal is key to unlocking the future potential and ambitions for the region.
“We are working together collectively and this ultimately means we’re better placed to encourage investment in our local economy.”
The bid deadline is in June and a decision is expected in November on whether the Greater Brighton proposals will be given further government support.
