West Sussex Local Enterprise Partnership delivers economic plan to Government

Coast to Capital, based in Hurst Road, Horsham, is seeking £559 million funding from central government over the next six years to back a bold and widespread investment programme which will yield new jobs and improved infrastructure, including transport and flood defences, together with the acceleration of plans for new housing.

If its funding proposal is successful, Coast to Capital has committed to:

• Create: 60,000 new jobs; 27,000 homes and 970,000 sq. m of new employment space;

• Invest £550m of public sector funding from local authorities, higher education and others;

• Leverage £2.78 billion of private sector funding to support the Growth Deal proposals;

• Invest £61m of European funding.

Ron Crank, chief executive at Coast to Capital, said: “We need to invest in skills and future-proof training to create more jobs.

“We need to build houses to accommodate our growing workforce, and this will create jobs.

“We need to make sure our infrastructure is up to the task, which in turn will create more jobs.

“This investment will kick-start a cycle of ambitious growth that will leave a positive legacy for the region.”