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The new ������վ Innovation Centre has been given the green light and is set to bring a much-needed economic, innovation and technological boost to ������վ.

The Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board has approved (subject to contract) £8.4 million funding ear-marked from the government’s “Getting Building Fund” to enable the Centre’s design, build and launch in the Manor Royal Business District by the end of 2023.

The project is a major priority in ������վ’s Economic Recovery Plan 2022-2037 and it is also closely aligned to the Coast to Capital plan to Build Back Smarter, Stronger and Greener.

The aim is for the centre in the first instance to help create over 200 new jobs and benefit directly up to 40 local businesses. In the longer term, the aim is to help attract significant new manufacturing business investment into ������վ, including at new industrial space in Manor Royal.

The centre will be a major technological innovation asset to support ������վ’s existing advanced engineering businesses in Manor Royal and to enable growth in new and emerging business sectors such as clean energy and quantum technologies. It will provide vital “grow-on” space which will enable hi-tech small businesses (SMEs) to “scale up”, prototype and demonstrate new technologies in clean energy, quantum tech and transportation tech.

The centre will help boost innovation and research and development output in ������վ and the Gatwick Diamond as well as unlock manufacturing jobs and attract business investment.

Additionally, the centre will expand the capacity of ������վ’s clean / green energy business cluster, which is vital as ������վ looks to meet its carbon reduction targets in the coming years.

The centre will also attract new high value jobs and business investment to boost ������վ’s recovery and the Gatwick Diamond.

The centre will actively engage with ������վ College and the Universities of Brighton, Chichester and Sussex on opportunities for local workforce tech apprenticeships and skills, SME research and development and business support, and for the centre to accommodate hi-tech academic “spin out” enterprises.

The ������վ Innovation Centre project will also be seeking to secure £2.5 million of funding from the ������վ Towns Fund programme to invest in the operational establishment of the centre – this business case is subject to approval by ������վ Borough Council and to endorsement by the ������վ Town Deal Board.

• Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership provides leadership, investment and business support to increase productivity and generate sustainable and inclusive growth
• It covers a diverse and vibrant area which includes East Surrey, West Sussex and Greater Brighton.
• In the six years since Coast to Capital was formed, it has successfully invested more than £300 million of public money in local infrastructure.
• Read the

On 4 August 2020, the government confirmed the which will receive a share of £900 million from the Getting Building Fund.

The Getting Building Fund is investing in shovel-ready infrastructure projects to create jobs and support economic recovery across the country. Projects funded include:

• regeneration of town and city centres
• green infrastructure and clean energy
• transport and digital connectivity improvements
• unlocking of housing and business sites
• support for SMEs and learners

The successful projects (over 300) are expected to deliver up to 85,000 jobs, over 1,500,000 sqm of commercial floor space, unlocking 45,000 homes, almost 1,000,000 sqm of public realm or green space improved or created, over 50,000 new learners assisted, and 65 million kgs of CO2 emissions saved.

All projects have been selected by Local Enterprise Partnerships and Mayoral Combined Authorities in each area and endorsed by the Housing Secretary.

The ������վ Innovation Centre project is identified as a priority scheme within ������վ’s Economic Recovery Plan, which was adopted by the council in November 2021.