Arun

Coast to Capital yesterday (Monday) announced it had been successful in securing  £14.4 million from the Growing Places Investment Fund - £6million of which will be pumped into realising the ambitions for the Airfield Park element of the wider enterprise@BognorRegis scheme.

The money will be used to unlock large areas of employment land, build infrastructure such as roads and cycle ways and create an attractive parkland setting.

Councillor Gillian Brown, Leader of Arun District Council, said: “There were many schemes in the running for this funding so for Coast to Capital to choose to invest in Bognor Regis is brilliant news.

“It’s a result of all the hard work of all the partners involved in enterprise@BognorRegis who have worked since last summer on raising its profile and importance.

“This is just one project which is part of a much wider vision. Our ambitions for enterprise@BognorRegis will generate several thousand jobs in the long term, help and support our own local businesses grow and attract many new ones to the town.”

The Airfield Park project has been led by Sime Darby London Ltd, supported by Arun District Council. Raof Daud said on behalf of the company: "We are thrilled to have been successful in the bid.  Now the hard work starts on delivering the project.  We are grateful for all the support we have received from the regeneration partners in Bognor Regis."

The successful bid was secured by Coast to Capital, the Local Enterprise Partnership. It is a public and private sector partnership formed to improve economic prosperity.

Councillor Norman Dingemans, Arun's Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Development, said: ”This is great news. We were disappointed not to have received the official enterprise zone status from Government but pledged to create an unofficial one ourselves, building on the support of everyone in Bognor Regis who worked so hard to put together the original bid.

"We have not rested on our laurels and news of this funding boost is a great example of what can be achieved by working together and sets the scene for an exciting future as we continue to drive forward our ambitious plans.”