The Partnership Working Model which will deliver long-term sustainable growth for Mid Sussex
Nathan Spilsted Regeneration and Economy Programme Manager at Mid Sussex District Council told delegates at the recent Real Estate Live conference that partnership working and buy-in at all levels has been key in delivering one of the one of the most ambitious, complex, and pioneering inward investment projects currently taking place in the UK.
The Burgess Hill Growth programme, which is already well into its delivery phase, will see the town grow from a population of 30,000 to more than 45,000 in a decade, delivering homes, jobs, schools, parks, green space, and technical innovation to build economically successful and sustainable neighbourhoods.
Nathan said that the key to the Growth Programme's success was the local authority's 'open door' policy which encouraged a culture of collaboration.
"We had a clear vision to create a vibrant district that is attractive, resilient and innovative and which balances social well-being, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.
"We are looking to create over 5,000 homes and create 5,000 new jobs in Burgess Hill – that's a growth rate of 3% per annum which is big in anyone's books and can involve up to 20-30 projects being under way at any one time.
"But change on this scale can only be delivered by working in partnership with others. It enabled us to expand what we could influence and achieve, including £60m in grants and funding as well as Home England's commitment to its large-scale investment in Mid Sussex."
He was supported by Graham Hyslop, Projects Director – South, Homes England, who told delegates that he had been impressed by how Mid Sussex's partnership working culture had impacted on the speed of progress, both through weekly meetings and the 'fine grain' of all the work the authority had put into consultation and engaging with all key stakeholders and residents to ensure they were invested in the process.
"Mid Sussex are fantastic partners in terms of planning. It's a really good working relationship that gets things done," he told delegates.
Nathan explained how the authority aimed to be an exemplar council for promoting partnership working, including developers, stakeholders, local residents, volunteers, the public and private sector in the development of its Sustainable Economy Strategy.
"We believed that to achieve sustainable growth we needed the right strategy and a clear roadmap with clear timescales and lines of ownership which would drive sustainable communities and our Sustainable Economy Strategy sits at the heart of that."
"It sets out Mid Sussex's ambition and provides a new focus on sustainability with the aim of driving green growth following the pandemic."
Key objectives including creating a high employment rate, opportunities for skills, encouraging business start-ups, providing business infrastructure, and providing commercial and employment space.
You can find out more about Mid Sussex's Sustainable Economic Strategy here