East Sussex seeks more than Â£23.7m in Government funding

In its bid to the Government’s national Local Growth Fund, SELEP has applied for more than £229m of funding for projects around the south east which it says could bring more than 73,000 new jobs to the region. The proposed projects include; a £5m bid from Eastbourne Borough Council to help fund the Devonshire Park Quarter re-development, a £6.2m bid from Lewes District Council for the Enterprise Business Park project in Newhaven and a £10.8m bid by East Sussex County Council for a new strategic growth project. The projects also include a £6.75m bid by East Sussex County Council to improve the transport network around Newhaven and a £2.2m bid by Lewes District Council to help fund the Charleston Centenary bid. In total the bids for East Sussex come to more than £23.7m of investment from the Local Growth Fund. The partnership says its full bid, if approved by the Government, could help create an estimated 73,672 jobs throughout the region and bring a further £756m of private sector investment and other funding. It also says the funding would secure the construction of a further 31,052 new houses. SELEP chairman Christian Brodie said: “Our bid delivers against the Government’s priorities of creating more jobs, homes and improving skills. Support for it will send a very positive message to existing businesses and inward investors that there is an ambition and appetite to grow the economy of the south east. “Sitting between mainland Europe and the rest of the UK, our area is perfectly placed to deliver for the country as a whole. The bid is timely as it will ensure we have a strong economy as we move towards our new relationship with Europe.” SELEP has put forward 41 projects from across East Sussex, Essex, Kent, Medway, Southend and Thurrock for consideration The partnership says each of the 41 projects seeking funding have been selected to help create jobs and the economy, improve transport infrastructure, build more new houses or support the skills and training of local communities. It says the projects would also secure the construction of a further 31,052 homes, which it hopes will continue a year-on-year rise in the region's rate of house building since 2013/14. A decision on the bid is expected before the Autumn Statement in December. Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on. 1) Make our website your homepage 2) Like our Facebook page 3) Follow us on Twitter 4) Register with us by clicking on 'sign in' (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don't miss out! Always the first with your local news. Be part of it.