Image caption: Councillor Yvonne Gravely, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills
Release date: 24 August 2026
West Sussex County Council has endorsed a refreshed programme of Growth Deals that will invest in the county's high streets, green spaces, transport links and community facilities, helping communities across West Sussex thrive through to 2030.
Cllr Yvonne Gravely, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, has formally signed the refreshed Growth Deals on behalf of West Sussex County Council, reaffirming the council's commitment to working closely with partners to deliver sustainable economic growth and investment across the county.
The seven refreshed agreements covering Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Worthing, have been updated to reflect current local plans, economic priorities and development opportunities, with a stronger emphasis on the quality of the places people live, work and visit.
Cllr Gravely said: "The refreshed Growth Deals reaffirm our commitment to sustainable growth across West Sussex through to 2030.
"Growth is about more than numbers on a page. It is about creating attractive town centres, greener public spaces, better transport links and the facilities that help communities thrive.
"By working together, we can continue creating opportunities for residents, supporting businesses and strengthening communities across the county."
Schemes include:
- improvements to Chichester's North and East Street
- the Worthing Public Realm Improvements programme
- the redevelopment of the Martlets shopping centre in Burgess Hill
- improvements at the Bishopric in Horsham
- Supporting the best use of public assets through the One Public Estate programme.
The Deals also place greater emphasis on enhancing biodiversity, creating greener public spaces and supporting net zero ambitions. Examples include the £3.1 million Montague Gardens scheme in Worthing, which will deliver new green space, a play area and an event stage, helping to better connect the seafront with the town centre. Additional initiatives include proposals for new pocket parks in Lancing and further investment in the Manor Royal Park Links project.
Alongside this, the Deals provide upgraded flood defences protecting homes, businesses and transport routes in Shoreham town centre and support the council’s ambition to transition to net zero through heat networks in Crawley and Worthing, rooftop solar across Manor Royal.
Sustainable transport is a priority across all seven Deals, with investment in walking, cycling, bus and rail improvements. Examples include the Place and Connectivity Programme in Burgess Hill and new bus lanes in Crawley. The Deals also support facilities that help communities thrive, including new sports facilities in Adur, the regeneration of the Alexandra Theatre in Bognor Regis and investment in the long-term future of Worthing Pier and the Lido.
Since their introduction, Growth Deals have helped attract significant external investment and are supporting the delivery of new homes, jobs, business space, public realm improvements and sustainable transport infrastructure across West Sussex. To find out more about the Growth programme and stay up to date with the latest projects and developments, visit: Growth Deals - West Sussex County Council.
