Centre for Cities calls for fresh approach to new development in Brighton & Hove
Date: 10/02/2009A new report by the Centre for Cities published today sets out a road map for Brighton and Hove's future economic success. The report argues that the city should support major development projects and create new office space and housing, or its economy will lose out when the upturn comes.
Brighton and Hove's economy has performed well over the past decade, adding nearly 23,000 jobs to its economy between 1998 and 2005 - twice the UK average for employment growth. But the city will get hit by recession and will need to be proactive if it is to return to strong economic growth.
The report recommends:
-
The Council, residents and business reach a clearer consensus on which new developments are needed to realise the city's ambitions for economic growth - whether that means facilitating improvements to the city centre, or building more homes and business space.
-
The Council, SEEDA and Wired Sussex* further support Brighton and Hove's burgeoning digital sector - by creating new office space that supports the emerging ‘creative quarter' in the city centre, for example.
Chris Webber, the report author from the Centre for Cities said,
"Brighton and Hove has seen the strongest economic performance of any seaside town over the past decade, but its future prosperity is by no means a given. The city needs to foster the right conditions for its residents, workers and businesses to thrive. This means a more positive attitude to new development projects - building office space for example, for its growing digital industry. Standing still is not an option."
Cllr Ted Kemble, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Employment and Major Projects, at Brighton and Hove City Council said:
"The council funded this report because we wanted an honest assessment of the city's strengths and challenges so we could react in the most effective way to the continually changing economic conditions.
"Like all other cities we face difficult times. But this comes against a background of creating over 20,000 jobs in recent times with growth rates around 20 per cent - way above the national average.
"We are clearly acting on this recession in the right ways because we are already implementing many of the recommendations in the report. These include supporting local retailers and nurturing creative industries. We're also working hard to deliver more targeted help for long-term unemployed people.
"I want to make clear that the council and the administration are committed to developing the city even further. We are one of few councils with a dedicated councillor for major projects and we have more large developments in the pipeline than most comparable cities. Our staff are working full-time to deliver them at a very difficult time for property investment."
Simon Fanshawe, Chair of the Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership said,
"This independent report points Brighton and Hove to the future. The Economic Partnership has been in the forefront of arguing for growth and ambition in the city - both in terms of physical development and in the aspirations of local companies. The downturn is both a threat and also an opportunity. We must do what we can to support healthy companies in the recession, and we need now to look towards economic growth and success in the upturn. Businesses in the city have much opportunity. We are glad that this independent report urges the Council to be as brave as it can in planning for the future."
For more information, please contact:
Rosamund Taylor, Acting
External Affairs Manager, Centre for Cities,
020 7803 4316, Mobile: 07876 175 426
r.taylor@centreforcities.org
Notes to editors:
Brighton & Hove - Sustaining City Growth is available upon request or at www.centreforcities.org/brighton
Brighton & Hove is a Partner City in the Centre for Cities research programme ‘Unlocking City Potential and Sustaining City Growth. The programme works closely with a small group of cities (Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Hull, Sunderland, York) to inform economic development strategies and improve economic performance
The Centre for Cities recently published Into Recession: Vulnerability and Resilience in Leeds, Brighton and Bristol, by Dr Malcolm Cooper and Kieran Larkin. This paper looks into how Leeds' financial, Bristol's manufacturing and Brighton's retail/leisure sectors may be affected by the economic slowdown. The report makes specific recommendations for Brighton offering some practical ideas on what they could do to stem the tide of jobs losses and business closures. The paper is available to download at www.centreforcities.org/intorecession.
On 26 January, Centre for Cities launched Cities Outlook 2009. This report ranks the economic performance of 64 of the UK's largest cities and towns. A Brighton fact sheet is available upon request.
