Councils have signed a new partnership agreement designed to deliver thousands of new jobs and homes on the south coast.

Adur and Worthing Councils and West County Council have made a joint pledge to work in partnership on a number of key projects over the next five years, including the regeneration of Worthing town centre.

The Adur and Worthing Growth Deal is the third growth deal in the county which focuses on local priorities and sets out an agreement to align resources to deliver sustainable growth.

‘As councils, our first priority is always our residents so by working closer together we can multiply our impact and unlock opportunities for new homes and employment,’ said Louise Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council.

‘We will also use our combined knowledge to attract investments from the private sector and funding opportunities from a variety of sources. I am so delighted to have this agreement in place and look forward to seeing its impact.’

Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council, said: ‘This is another step forward as we continue our ambitious plans to create high-quality places for people to live, work and visit in Adur.

‘This five year deal with West Sussex shows our commitment to working with others to create hundreds of new homes and new jobs across the district while providing great value for money for local taxpayers.’

The leader of Worthing Borough Council, Daniel Humphreys, said: ‘As council budgets continue to be reduced to pay down the national deficit, it is vital that different parts of the public sector work together to get the best possible result for our local communities.

‘The Adur & Worthing Growth Deal will use money from existing budgets, as well as new revenue generated through business rates, to bring forward major projects such as regenerating Worthing Town Centre and installing Gigabit Fibre Broadband in our area.’

‘In forming ever closer ties with West Sussex County Council and by adopting a more business-like approach, we will generate investment in Worthing to benefit the whole of our community,’ he added.