£50m for Greater Brighton
Greater Brighton is to benefit from £52.4m of investment to boost the local economy and support jobs, infrastructure and transport.
It’s part of a six year Government Growth deal with Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership worth £202 million. Across the region it will start with investment of £38m of new funding in 2015/16 and it will deliver 14,000 jobs, 4,600 new homes and 190,000 square metres of employment space.
Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council Jason Kitcat said;
“Investment in the local area is vital and this allocation of funding will build on the Greater Brighton City Deal enabling us to support the local economy and improve the city region while providing more new jobs and opportunities for more local residents.”
Greater Brighton has been allocated £52.4m of project specific funding:
£2.7m for Circus Street, central Brighton - a city centre mixed use regeneration project of a site to deliver new homes, office building, student accommodation, a library and academic buildings.
£7.7m Preston Barracks Central Research Laboratory (City Deal Growth Centre) - a joint venture between University of Brighton, Cathedral and Brighton Council to create a new innovation hub to commercialise academic research and incubate high growth businesses, with new housing. £7.7m with £1m in 2015/16.
£7m for Advanced Engineering Centre (Ricardo / Uni of Brighton)a collaboration between the University of Brighton and Ricardo in a new Centre of Excellence to deliver leading automotive and environmental engineering training and research. Ricardo is a global strategic, technical and environmental engineering firm based in Shoreham. Up to £7m with £4.5m in 2015/16.
£14m for Valley Gardens, Brighton
£10m for Newhaven Port Access Road
£1.5m Newhaven Flood defences (supports City Deal)
£9.5m for Shoreham Flood defences (support City Deal)
Flood Defences Newhaven and Shoreham - Building upon the funding announced in March 14 through the Greater Brighton City Deal. In Newhaven, this will open up major brownfield sites for housing and employment land plus new harbour facilities. In Shoreham, the flood defences and transport access improvements will allow land to be used for housing and businesses. £1.5m in Newhaven and £9.5m in Shoreham. There is also commitment to future funding for the Newhaven Port Access Road.
There is also funding for City College City College Brighton and Hove and Chichester College - Refurbishment of dilapidated buildings and facilities to allow an increase in trainees, apprentices, disabled learners and new links to local businesses. £11m in 2015/16 with a further round for new projects of £10m in
Ron Crank, Coast to Capital chief executive, said: “Investment in the region’s business infrastructure is vital for its successful future performance and there is much to do. We must ensure this first year programme is delivered and we must prepare the investments and projects for the remainder of the six year programme. It is clear, that as successful as our region already is, we need significant investment in our transport infrastructure, in business support and in skills, if we and the UK as a whole, is going to compete internationally. We welcome this investment in our region by Government and our continued discussions about our ambitions for Enterprise Zones and for new housing projects in Croydon.”
Andrew Swayne, Chair of the Adur and Worthing Business Partnership said “I am delighted that Government has recognised that Coast to Capital and the Greater Brighton City Region deserve investment and that it is focused on much needed infrastructure. Its particularly pleasing to see the flood defences fully funded so that much needed development can take place and that housing is protected. I am also excited that the Advanced Engineering Centre at Brighton University will bring further innovation with its collaboration with Shoreham based Ricardo.”
Editor’s notes
About Coast to Capital: The Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership brings together five local sub-area partnerships: Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership; Coastal West Sussex; Gatwick Diamond Initiative; Strategic Partnership Croydon; and West Sussex Rural Partnership. The main partners are the four upper tier and unitary authorities: Brighton and Hove City Council; Croydon Council; Surrey County Council; and West Sussex County Council.