Sussex And The City

#45: Where Does A National Park Fit Into Devolution?

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #45 Where Does A National Park Fit Into Devolution? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Vanessa Rowlands – Chair, South Downs National Park Authority; Chair, National Parks England 🔍 Episode summary The South Downs National Park is one of Sussex's core systems for water, climate resilience, biodiversity, tourism, farming, health and long-term prosperity. Richard Freeman speaks with Vanessa Rowlands, Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority and Chair of National Parks England, about where protected landscapes fit into devolution. As Sussex prepares for new regional governance, the conversation asks whether a future mayor can genuinely plan for growth without understanding land, water and nature. The South Downs is unusual. It stretches across Hampshire and Sussex, includes large market towns such as Lewes, Petersfield, Petworth and Midhurst, and works across multiple council boundaries. Can Sussex think strategically about the systems that do not fit neatly inside administrative lines? The conversation explores planning, farming, chalk aquifers, tourism, nature recovery, renewable energy, flooding, rural businesses and the need to stop treating environment and economy as separate conversations. This episode is brought to you in partnership with EQ Investors. EQ Investors helps people invest with purpose, long-term thinking and a commitment to positive impact. Their work supports clients to make informed decisions while considering the wider social and environmental effects of where money is invested. It reflects a growing recognition that prosperity is not just about short-term returns, but about building a more resilient future. Find out more at eqinvestors.co.uk 🎯 In this episode What the South Downs National Park Authority actually does Why national parks are more than conservation bodies How the South Downs fits into Sussex devolution Why water security could become a defining issue for Sussex The role of chalk aquifers, wetlands and sustainable land management How nature recovery and economic growth can support each other Why protected landscapes should be seen as infrastructure What tourism growth could mean for Eastbourne, Lewes and the wider park How farming, food supply chains and rural businesses fit into the devolution debate What a future Sussex mayor needs to understand about land, climate and place 🧠 Key themes The National Park is infrastructure, not backdrop. It supports water supply, flood mitigation, biodiversity, tourism and public wellbeing. Growth depends on environmental capacity. Housing, business expansion and tourism all rely on land, water, energy and climate resilience. Devolution could overlook bodies that already think strategically. The South Downs National Park Authority works across boundaries, but protected landscapes need a clearer role in emerging regional structures. Water is the hidden strategic issue. Flooding, drought, aquifers, wastewater and soil health may become as politically important as housing and transport. The countryside is economically active. Farming, tourism, green finance, rural businesses and cultural assets are part of the real economy, not an add-on. Sussex needs a better story about itself. The region's rural, coastal, urban and cultural assets need to be joined up into a clearer proposition. 💬 What Vanessa says "These countryside protected landscapes aren't just passive places. They are critical pieces of national infrastructure." "How can we be good neighbours for everybody else?" "We've got to start creating this story about Sussex and drawing people into it." "Everything we do across any national park can always be related to water." "Nature is our business." 🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Vanessa Rowlands Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue 📣 Get involved 👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

BONUS: Andy Burnham in 2022: How A Mayor Measures Impact

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Bonus episode Andy Burnham in 2022: How A Mayor Measures Impact Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Andy Burnham – Mayor of Greater Manchester 🔍 Episode summary This special bonus episode goes back into the archive, sharing Richard Freeman's January 2022 interview with Andy Burnham, originally recorded for The Possibility Club. At the time, Burnham was already one of the most prominent voices in English devolution. Today, his arguments about Westminster centralisation, regional power, transport, homelessness, young people, skills and public trust feel directly relevant to Sussex as it begins its own devolution journey. The conversation explores what it means to lead a region with visibility, convening power and a clear story of place. Burnham argues that devolution should start with people's lives, not abstract structures, and that impact should be measured through "names, not numbers". For Sussex, the episode offers some perspective. If a future mayor is to mean anything, they will need to do more than manage structures. They will need to build trust, connect councils, businesses, charities and communities, and make regional leadership feel human. 🎯 In this episode Why Andy Burnham believes England is too centralised What Greater Manchester can teach Sussex about devolution Why regional leaders need power, visibility and a clear story How Burnham measures impact through human stories, not just statistics Why young people, transport, skills and homelessness became mayoral priorities How creativity and culture shape civic leadership Why collaboration has to start from the grassroots How a mayor can use convening power to bring people together 🧠 Key themes Devolution is not just about structures. Burnham argues that real devolution should give places the power to act on the issues affecting people's lives. Impact needs to be human. Data matters, but Burnham makes the case for measuring change through lived experience and real stories. Young people need a stronger place in regional policy. The conversation covers life readiness, mental health, skills and whether education is preparing young people for the world they are actually entering. Collaboration works best when it starts from place. Burnham describes how Greater Manchester brought councils, charities, businesses, faith groups and communities together around shared missions. Sussex should pay attention. The episode raises useful questions about what kind of mayoral leadership Sussex might need: visible, practical, collaborative and rooted in local identity. 💬 What Andy says "Politics lives too much in the world of numbers and statistics." "It should all be about names, not numbers." "To build resilience, you need to take power out and enable places and people and organisations to do much more for themselves." "Devolution creates that possibility." "Collaboration starts with where you are." "If you build collaboration from the bottom up, that actually is the way to make more impactful, meaningful change." 🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Andy Burnham Original podcast: The Possibility Club Producer / editor: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Produced by: always possible 📣 Get involved 👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

#43: Inside Brighton's Fight For The Future High Street

The Sussex And The City podcast – Episode #43 Inside Brighton's Fight For The Future High Street Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Gavin Stewart – Chief Executive, Brilliant Brighton BID / Executive Director, Brighton Economic Growth Board 🔍 Episode summary Brighton and Hove has always had a complicated relationship with its own story. To some, it is one of the UK's most creative, entrepreneurial and culturally alive cities. To others, it is a place under pressure from rising rents, empty shops, homelessness, graffiti, changing consumer habits and a fragile public realm. In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with Gavin Stewart, Chief Executive of Brilliant Brighton (Business Improvement District) and Executive Director of the Brighton & Hove Economic Growth Board, about what is really happening in the city centre economy. Gavin explains the role of the Business Improvement District, how businesses collectively fund projects such as Christmas lights, street dressing, security ambassadors and support for local traders, and why Brighton's high street story is more nuanced than the familiar 'UK city in decline' narrative. The conversation explores vacancy rates, independent retail, landlords, inward investment, tourism, the changing purpose of the high street, and what Brighton needs to do if it wants to remain distinctive, resilient and economically important. As Sussex moves towards devolution and a future mayoral authority, Brighton's role becomes even more significant. Is it the region's economic engine, its cultural shop window, its tourism magnet or something more complex? And how can Brighton's success create a ripple effect across the wider Sussex economy? This is a conversation about high streets, but also about confidence, identity, partnership, investment and what kind of city Brighton & Hove wants to become. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Brighton Hive. Brighton Hive is a growing community built on the idea that business works better when it behaves a bit more like nature. Founded by Kyriakos Baxevanis, the award-winning entrepreneur and former Sussex and the City podcast guest, Brighton Hive brings together people, organisations and purpose-led brands to create something more connected, more human and more useful than going it alone. Inspired by how a natural hive functions, it is about everyone playing a part, sharing skills, supporting each other and building something bigger than any single business. Rooted in Brighton and focused on food, wellbeing and community, the Hive is already home to ventures including Nostos Greek Restaurant, Little Jasmine Spa and Be Well Live Well. Find out more at brightonhive.co.uk 🎯 In this episode Why Brighton's city centre story is more complicated than "boom" or "decline" What a Business Improvement District actually does How Brighton businesses collectively invest in the city centre experience Why Brighton's retail vacancy rate is lower than many people assume How independent shops help shape the city's distinct identity Why landlords are such a powerful but under-discussed force in high street change What inward investment could look like for Brighton and Hove How tourism, retail, housing, schools, culture and lifestyle all shape the local economy Why devolution could change how Brighton works with the rest of Sussex What a future Sussex mayor should understand about Brighton's economic role 🧠 Key themes Brighton is not collapsing, but it is under pressure. The city centre still performs strongly in many areas, but rising costs, changing shopping habits and public realm challenges are affecting confidence. Independent businesses remain central to Brighton's identity. The city's character depends on small, creative and distinctive traders, particularly in areas such as the North Laine and The Lanes. Vacancy rates only tell part of the story. Empty units are visible and send a negative signal, even when the data shows Brighton performing better than the national average. Landlords have a major influence over the future of the high street. Rent levels, lease terms and the willingness to back more experimental uses all shape what kind of city centre can emerge. The high street needs to become more than retail. Culture, leisure, circular economy, repair, food, events, social infrastructure and public experience all matter. Devolution could help Brighton make a stronger case for investment, but only if the city works in genuine partnership with the rest of Sussex rather than behaving like the whole region revolves around it. 💬 What Gavin says "We've got one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country." "We all believe in the city so much, and we all really want it to succeed." "We're not a cookie-cutter type place." "It's a market, and there's very little we can do to curb those businesses opening up." "Our success is a partnership." "The diversity of that group is absolutely its strength." "There is an opportunity for much more leisure usage of the high street." "I'm a big believer in working together. I'm a big believer in this region." You might enjoy our podcast investigation into the first 20 years of Brighton & Hove as a city THE BRIGHTON PARADOX [https://www.alwayspossible.co.uk/the-brighton-paradox/] 🎧 Sussex And The City production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Gavin Stewart Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue 📣 Get involved 👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

#42: "The Antidote To Division Is Community"

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #42 "The Antidote To Division Is Community" Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Kevin Richmond – former CEO, Sussex Community Foundation 🔍 Episode summary Sussex is full of wealth, talent, creativity and civic energy. It is also home to deep inequality, entrenched coastal deprivation, loneliness, mental health pressures and communities facing rising need. In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with Kevin Richmond, founding CEO of Sussex Community Foundation, about what he has learned from nearly 20 years connecting local philanthropy with grassroots organisations across the county. Kevin explains what community foundations do, why small charities are often closest to the people most in need, and how local giving can reach places that bigger systems often miss. The conversation explores the gap between the wealth that exists in Sussex and the needs that sit alongside it, from Hastings and Bexhill to Eastbourne, East Brighton, Crawley, Littlehampton and beyond. As Sussex moves towards devolution, Kevin argues that the voluntary and community sector cannot be treated as an afterthought or emergency safety net. It is part of the core infrastructure of the county: trusted, local, responsive and often holding communities together long before official systems arrive. This is a conversation about money, but also about trust, power, pride, inequality, local agency and why any serious future plan for Sussex has to start with the people already doing the work. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Impact Initiatives. Impact Initiatives is a community-led charity proving that local action still packs a punch. Working across Brighton and Hove and beyond, Impact Initiatives supports people facing some of life's toughest challenges, from social isolation and homelessness to mental health pressures and financial hardship. Their approach is practical, compassionate and rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the chance to feel connected and valued. Through community hubs, peer support networks and targeted wellbeing programmes, they help turn loneliness into belonging and crisis into stability. It is steady, often quiet work, but its impact ripples widely across Sussex neighbourhoods. Find out more at impact-initiatives.org.uk 🎯 In this episode What Sussex Community Foundation does and why it exists Why most charities are small, local and often hard to find How philanthropy can reach grassroots organisations with deep community trust What Kevin has learned from nearly 20 years of Sussex giving Why coastal deprivation remains one of the county's most entrenched challenges How local charities help people regain confidence, connection and agency Why philanthropy cannot replace public services, but can take risks and back local action How devolution could strengthen or weaken local community power Why Sussex's wealth does not always connect with Sussex's need What a future Sussex mayor should understand about the voluntary sector 🧠 Key themes Small charities are often closest to the people and places experiencing the greatest need, but they are not always visible to donors, public bodies or larger institutions. Philanthropy works best when it builds trust, backs local people and strengthens community agency, rather than parachuting in solutions from outside. Sussex contains sharp contrasts: significant wealth, vibrant communities and deep-rooted deprivation often exist very close together. The coastal strip faces long-term economic challenges that cannot be solved by charity alone, but grassroots organisations are essential to any meaningful response. Devolution could bring useful strategic focus, but there is a real risk that localism is weakened if power moves further away from communities. The voluntary sector should be seen as civic infrastructure, not a back-up plan. It carries weight across health, education, loneliness, poverty, youth opportunity and community resilience. 💬 What Kevin says "Our mission is to build a fairer and more equal Sussex through investing in local community action." "The vast majority of the charity sector is grassroots." "Sussex is full of people who see a problem and say, let's sort this out." "The grassroots is where the hope is." "Philanthropy can never be a substitute for public services." "You don't solve things by parachuting in." "Invest and let go of control." "Giving back is one of the most rewarding things you can do in your life." ENJOY THESE PODCASTS? Please consider giving a rating or review on your podcast platform of choice. 🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Kevin Richmond Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue 📣 Get involved 👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

#41: Why Culture Should Be Infrastructure In A Devolved Sussex

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #41 Why Culture Should Be Infrastructure In A Devolved Sussex Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Louise Blackwell – producer, cultural strategist and founder of Creative Crawley 🔍 Episode summary Culture is often treated as the product of a vibrant place, and a thriving economy. A mural here, a festival there, something colourful once the serious work of housing, transport and economic growth has been done. This episode makes a very different argument. Richard Freeman speaks with Louise Blackwell, one of the most influential cultural producers working in Sussex, about Crawley, creativity and why arts and culture should be understood as part of the region's civic infrastructure. Louise grew up in Crawley before building a major national career in the arts, including co-founding Fuel, one of the UK's most respected independent producing organisations. More recently, she has brought that experience back into Sussex through Creative Crawley and Crawley's Creative Playground, securing £millions in funding to help local people shape what culture looks like in their own town. Together they explore why Crawley matters in the cultural life of Sussex, how culture can improve safety, confidence, belonging and public space, and why devolution creates a rare opportunity to rethink the role of creativity across the county. This month, it was confirmed in parliament that arts, culture and high street regeneration will become the responsibilities of directly elected mayors and their strategic authorities. So it is timely to discuss power, participation, identity, regeneration, young people, civic pride, and who gets to tell the story of Sussex next, through the lens of devolution. Read the prospectus for culture in West Sussex co-convened by Louise to focus the mind on the opportunity of devolution. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQ_Sh5_Hto34od69HuW2sLKajz3vM-hu/view] This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wild Purpose. Wild Purpose helps build stronger communities through nature and intergenerational understanding. This week is Global Intergenerational Week, which champions meaningful connections between generations across the world. Wild Purpose works across Sussex and beyond, running learning and community programmes that bring adults of all ages together to understand one another, gain fresh perspectives and grow life skills. Their co-mentoring programme, community connection walks, conversation cafes, and growing and creative allotment sessions are all designed with a collaborative, nature-based ethos. In a county shaped by coastline, countryside and a strong independent spirit, Wild Purpose asks what becomes possible when we take the connection between people and place seriously. Find out more at wildpurpose.org [https://www.wildpurpose.org] 🎯 In this episode Why Crawley deserves a stronger place in Sussex's cultural story How Louise's own Crawley upbringing shaped her career in the arts Why Creative Crawley was created How local people helped identify the town's cultural gaps and opportunities Why murals, festivals and creative activity can be part of civic infrastructure How culture can support safety, pride, belonging and regeneration Why Crawley's diversity, young population and location make it culturally important What devolution could mean for arts and culture across Sussex How cultural strategy can connect tourism, skills, innovation and community life Why Sussex needs to tell a bigger, bolder cultural story 🧠 Key themes Culture is not an optional extra. It shapes how people feel about where they live, how they use public space, and how communities build confidence and connection. Crawley has often been underestimated in Sussex's cultural identity, but its diversity, young population, new town heritage and location between London, Brighton and Gatwick give it huge creative potential. Creative work becomes more powerful when it is rooted in listening. Louise describes how residents, community groups, businesses and local leaders have helped shape Creative Crawley's approach. Devolution could create new opportunities for Sussex to think more strategically about culture, but only if creativity is understood as central to growth, skills, health, tourism and place-making. Sussex's cultural story is bigger than the familiar postcard version. It includes Crawley, Worthing, Chichester, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Brighton, rural communities, grassroots festivals, underground music, contemporary circus, youth theatre and creative education. The challenge is not just to celebrate culture, but to organise it better, resource it more intelligently, and connect it to the places and people who are too often left out of the story. 💬 What Louise says "There is something going on here, because it's not just me advocating." "What is missing is places and opportunities for people to come together and for their lives to get better through arts and culture." "We have such a broad definition of what creativity and culture is." "Nobody's taking it for granted that arts and culture is valuable. I have to show it by doing." "Where the money lies is where the power lies." "It could change the lives of people in Sussex and change the perspective of Sussex as the most exciting cultural destination in the UK." WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL POWER BROKERS? Join us for a special online briefing and Q+A on 30 April 2026, 1 - 2.30pm BOOK TICKETS >> HERE [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/what-do-we-know-and-where-are-we-going-a-briefing-on-devolution-in-sussex-tickets-1985575294155?aff=oddtdtcreator] 🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Louise Blackwell Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue 📣 Get involved 👉 sussexandthecity.info - episodes, resources and events