Sustainable Economy Strategy

In April 2022 Mid Sussex District Council approved a new Sustainable Economy Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025 to support sustainable economic growth in Mid Sussex.

The new strategy sets out how sustainable development in the District can provide economic prosperity while supporting our journey to net zero.

The Sustainable Economy Strategy focuses on the three key themes of People, Place and Partnerships.

Mid Sussex has high levels of employment and residents have a high average educational attainment. The Strategy aims to build on this by delivering high-value employment development within the District, such as the proposed Science and Technology Park to the north of Burgess Hill. Promoting access to training will give local people the opportunity to develop the skills they need to secure quality jobs and support for entrepreneurs will help new businesses to start up across the District. In addition, the Council will co-ordinate and provide advice to help local businesses improve the sustainability of their organisations. Please see ‘A Net Zero Business’ for further information.

MSDC will facilitate the delivery of sustainable infrastructure, including working with WSCC to significantly increase the number of Electric Vehicle Charging Points available across the District and promote sustainable travel options, including green travel plans (see the recently published LCWIP – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan). Digital infrastructure will be significantly improved through the rollout of full fibre and wireless technology to support residents, public services, charitable organisations, and economic activity within Mid Sussex. New development and land management should facilitate an increase in biodiversity and the Council will continue to set aside areas of public open space for rewilding.

The Council will adopt a Social Value and Sustainability Charter to ensure that there is commitment to support economic, environmental and social improvements from its suppliers and contractors, and will encourage procurement of goods and services from local organisations.

Mid Sussex has a well-established culture of partnership working and the new Sustainable Economy Strategy recognises and strengthens this. By working with partner organisations to deliver economic growth, combat climate change, maximise biodiversity, and promote and enable improvements to health and wellbeing for residents, the Council has set out a strong roadmap for the future

View the Sustainable Economy Strategy and Action Plan.

• There is significant upcoming development in Burgess Hill, including a new ground-breaking Passivhaus (a certification for the highest standard of energy efficiency a building can reach) ambition for the new school. 
• The Council is supporting the BLUE Campaign’s ‘Rewilding Britain’ nationwide initiative to help combat this loss by allowing 40 areas in the District to ‘rewild’. Most rewilding areas in the District have at least 10 wildflower species, over 15 at many sites and over 35 species at a couple of very biodiverse sites. 
• Trialling a ‘1-2-3’ enhanced recycling and rubbish collection and disposal service. 

The District Profile forms the evidence base from which the Sustainable Economy Strategy was created. Follow this link to view it: The District Profile (midsussex.gov.uk)

For more information on the Council’s Net Zero strategy, visit: A Net Zero Council.

View more information on Business and Licensing 

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