Economic strategy and delivery

The Arun Economic Development Strategy 2020 - 2025[pdf] 2MB  sets out the economic priorities of Arun District Council and the opportunities to support the prosperity of the district.

Our Vision for Arun [pdf] 975KB is to create a dynamic, competitive and sustainable place to live, work and do business. To do this we will capitalise on Arun’s advantages and address its challenges to continue to grow, attract and retain more businesses, people and investment.

The strategy focuses on 3 themes:

  • Arun: future places - Shaping our places: for people to live, work and visit
  • Arun: a business success story - Attracting investment and success: giving businesses the space and support to grow and prosper
  • Arun: prosperous and happy communities - Putting people centre stage: supporting our people to live healthy, happy, prosperous lives

A detailed evidence base, the Arun Economic Profile 2019 [docx] 14MB, provides an analysis of the latest statistical data and the performance of the local economy, labour market, social and physical infrastructure.

The strengths, opportunities and challenges emerging from the Arun Economic Profile 2019 have been taken forward to develop the vision, themes and priorities in the Arun Economic Development Strategy.  

The Arun Economic Development Strategy 2020-2025 was approved by Cabinet in December 2019 [doc] 113KB.

The detailed action plan [docx] 52KB (approved July 2021) sets out how the strategy will be delivered.

The  Arun Growth Deal 2018-2023 [pdf] 709KB  sets out  the economic growth priorities and opportunities for the district. This document was prepared by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) in collaboration with Arun District Council.  It forms part of a suite of documents that support the County Council’s West Sussex Growth Plan. The deal will help to identify an investment and delivery strategy which will provide higher GVA, jobs, homes and employment space in the district. Arun District Council’s Cabinet endorsed the draft Arun Place Plan in February 2016 which formed the core document for the Arun Growth Deal. The final document was approved by WSCC in August 2018. The Arun Growth Board meet regularly to review the priority projects identified in the deal and the progress being made.

Tourism and hospitality

Tourism and hospitality is a key element of ‘fulfilling Arun’s economic potential’- one of the themes of the Arun District Council Vision. To complement all the documents listed above, a new Arun Visitor Strategy for 2023-2028 [pdf] 1MB was commissioned and supported by the council’s Economy Committee (Item 394) in November 2023. This strategy document draws from  and complements other significant recent reports, including the 2020 Tourism Review, a Local Plan Hospitality report and a recently commissioned  Destination Awareness Marketing campaign(Item 395) for ‘Sussex by the Sea’ - the marketing name for the Arun District, its coast and countryside and thriving towns of Arundel, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and nearby Sussex villages.