Bognor to be international trade hub

The proposal is intended to see the town take a leading role in global business.

It could take 25 years for the import-export centre to be completed and transform the climate for businesses in the area.

The idea was a key feature of he Coast to Capital local enterprise partnership chosen by government minister Eric Pickles.

Among those heavily involved in the partnership bid was Sussex Enterprise chief executive Mark Froud.

He said Bognor was chosen because of its regeneration potential, the revamping of University of Chichester’s town campus to encourage entrepreneurs and the fact land could be available.

“Having the hub in Bognor would bring a large amount of benefit to the town. It would give a huge injection of confidence to the local business community. That can’t be under-estimated.

“We want to make use of the work which has already gone on around the regeneration of Bognor.

“Now our bid has been approved, we will be having discussions with the local councils, the university and local businesses so we know how we can make this idea succeed.

“We need to make sure if we are going to open this export zone that companies get the opportunity to move their premises there and have the flexibility to grow into different-sized buildings.

“Bognor, Chichester and the rural areas around them already have a number of well-known export businesses and the hub would build on their successes.

“It would also lock in their supply chains to the local area as well.”

Mr Froud said the traditional image of exports as goods was being replaced by a service industry based around the internet.

Bognor is among just three locations in the Coast to Capital bid. It covers all West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, the area around Gatwick Airport and Croydon.

The bid was led by West Sussex County Council. Its leader, Louise Goldsmith, said: “We will be looking to move quickly on 
this and work closely with our business partners to get on with boosting enterprise and international trade.

“These priorities are recognised by the government as the engines to drive innovation and business growth.”

Alison Brown, chairman of the Arun, Chichester and Midhurst branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The immediate focus for the Coast to Capital 
local enterprise partnership should be to set priorities to encourage and promote business growth in the area.”

The federation had been involved with the bid’s preparation and would continue to ensure small businesses were at the heart of its implementation, she added.