Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority

Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA) will speak up for our region with one strong voice, winning more funding from government and the private sector with local people getting a bigger say in how it’s spent.

It will mean residents get the right skills and support for good jobs, transport across the area can be coordinated more effectively, the affordability, availability and quality of homes can be improved and our businesses can grow to benefit the people who live and work here.

We already know Sussex has so much to offer. Our beautiful coastline, the South Downs National Park, the Weald, three leading universities and a strong equestrian and sporting heritage make this a region people are proud to live in and love to visit.

Strategically important international gateways, like Gatwick Airport and the ports of Shoreham and Newhaven, provide connections to the world. Our communities are diverse and dynamic; our businesses are innovative and forward-thinking and we’re proud to be the homeland of the UK’s winegrowing industry.

But we also face a range of challenges, such as access to affordable housing, poor transport links and persistent inequalities in many communities.

Significant government investment will help us drive and lead change so every part of our region thrives and succeeds. This includes a long-term investment fund totalling £1.14 billion, with £30.4 million over the next two years (before we elect our first Mayor in 2028) for early investment in programmes that matter most to Sussex residents and businesses and £9 million over the next four years to support the establishment of the new strategic authority.

We’ll develop and begin to deliver plans and strategies to make a difference across these areas. This will include a Sussex and Brighton Prosperity Strategy outlining what we will achieve and why – and what success will look like. A Local Growth Plan (LGP) will detail how the region can become more prosperous and a Spatial plan (SDS) will outline where growth and investment should be focused. Our Investment Framework will ensure decisions about spending are based on evidence and insight and will make the biggest difference for people in Sussex.