The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has announced that East Sussex is to benefit from levelling up funding to support major regeneration plans.
Town upgrades, community centres, and more affordable housing will be supported in Hastings and Rother thanks to £40 million of government funding, which will be split between the two towns. This investment comes as part of the government’s Levelling Up Partnerships programme, that sees £480 million being targeted at regeneration in 20 places in England – and four in Scotland – that are in the most need of levelling up.
Jacob Young, Levelling Up Minister, said:
“These new levelling up partnerships worth £40 million are fantastic news for the people of Hastings and Rother – and another important step in our work to accelerate regeneration and transform lives in this special part of the country.
“This money builds on the millions of pounds we’ve already invested to breathe new life into the area – restoring pride in our towns and creating new opportunities for local people.
“We are working closely with local leaders including East Sussex County Councils as part of our plans to level up East Sussex, making sure residents and families reap the rewards of new and improved health services, refurbished community hubs and revamped high streets.”
Significant investment has already been committed to the two towns through other government programmes, with Hastings benefitting from almost £24 million from the Towns Fund and £1 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Levelling Up Fund is also supporting Rother with more than £19 million.
Councillor Keith Glazier, Leader of East Sussex County Council, also commented:
“We welcome this funding which will support a range of important community and infrastructure projects that will help improve the lives and opportunities open to those people living in Hastings and Rother.
“These are two areas that have suffered from significant economic and social pressures not experienced in other parts of the southeast, and these investments will go some way to breaking down barriers and tackling the challenges they face.”
Some of the projects that will be supported through the funding include:
- More than £13 million – Providing more affordable homes in Hastings
- £9 million – Building more than 50 homes in Bexhill by releasing a former leisure centre site and constructing a new one.
- £5 million – Improving access to healthcare in Bexhill
- £3.4 million – Offering health and wellbeing services alongside the local NHS by transforming a local youth club.
The Levelling Up Partnerships programme was announced last year as part of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget, and funding has already been confirmed for Hull, Sandwell, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Mansfield, Blackburn, and Bassetlaw.
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