Millions needed in West Sussex to support new housing

The University of Chichester's new engineering and digital technology campus will link up with the plans for Bognor

Plans to attract finance companies to Chichester and to establish a "creative and digital quarter" in Bognor are being set out for West Sussex.

The two schemes are among major projects planned by the county council over the next five years.

It plans to spend £676m, of which £404m will come from grants and up to £75m from borrowing.

The council's Conservative leader Louise Goldsmith said the investment was needed to support new housing.

'Growing need'

"Over the next 15 years we are going to have about 57,000 new houses being built in the county, taking in all the local plans that have been done by our district and borough councils," she said.

"When you build those houses people want schools, jobs and a good level of care when they get older.

"There is a growing need and we want to develop the economy."

The rest of the £676m needed will come from developers and other council revenue.

Where the money will go

The capital spending being discussed by the council's cabinet includes:

• £77m for 300 extra secondary school places and 1,500 primary places

• £10m for investment in improvements to the A27 at Chichester

• Developing a bioengineering campus in the county and business facilities in Crawley and the Gatwick area

• Bringing high-end finance companies to Chichester with a private optical fibre broadband network

• £4.5m for a social care academy to train care providers and workers

• Developing a creative and digital quarter in Bognor Regis linked to Chichester University's new engineering and digital technology campus.