March 13 2014.


Norman Baker MP has welcomed the news that Newhaven will receive a significant amount of funding as part of the Greater Brighton City Deal towards creating jobs and improving the areas business potential.

As a result of this deal - and following Baker’s letter to the Environment Agency - Newhaven will see further investment in sea defences and up-to £7 million is being put aside to improve flood defence in Newhaven from 2015.

The proposed defences will help protect hundreds of homes and businesses, and, by guaranteeing a start-date for the protection works to begin, the deal will help secure private sector investment and assist in the creation of thousands of jobs along the coast.

Baker has campaigned hard for project money to go towards rejuvenating Newhaven. This has included lobbying Greg Clark MP, Minister for Cities, to promote and support the bid and writing to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership who then contributed money to the scheme.

The deal is part of a government initiative to boost jobs and growth by allowing greater independence from Whitehall. Cities from the successful first wave of deals secured groundbreaking powers including the ability to ‘earn back’ tax from the Treasury, devolved transport budgets; and control of the skills budget for their city. These new powers will provide direct and indirect benefits on the population and industry across the surrounding area including those based in Lewes District.

The funding announcement comes hot-on-the-heels of the town’s recent successful bid to the Coastal Communities Fund, which secured £1.9million of Big Lottery funding to be spent on creating jobs and developing local skills.

Said Baker: “It is great to see even more good news for Newhaven. Being a part of this scheme is going to benefit the town hugely and have knock on positive effects across the constituency. This is a massive amount of money that will help regenerate the town, provide opportunities for new investment and bring jobs to the area.

“The fact that the deal includes much needed funding for flood defences will come as a welcome relief to many in the town following the recent spate of bad weather. With better protection from flooding I am certain that more businesses will be attracted to what Newhaven has to offer.

“The tide has turned for Newhaven and it is on the way up.”