ISLAND REGENERATION JIGSAW COMPLETE

SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, and Lewes District Council have completed a 4m deal to build a new business centre.

The centre will provide some 2,000 square metres of office, studio and workshop space specifically geared towards new and small businesses.

The small units will be available on 'easy in easy out' terms with on-site management, meeting space and business support through the existing Newhaven Enterprise Gateway.

The objective is to increase the start up and survival rate of businesses in the area and provide an environment in which they can thrive.

SEEDA will provide the funding for the 4 million development which will be progressed by the district council. The project is being managed by Basepoint, a managed business centre operator. A start on the site is expected imminently, with the centre being complete and open for business in 12 months' time.

Talks to develop Denton Island started in 1999. Since then a training centre has been built and a children and families centre.

Geoff Hawkins, senior development manager at SEEDA, said: 'This is one of a network of new business centres SEEDA is proposing to provide around the south east. Delivery in Newhaven has been made possible only by the hard work of our project partners, Lewes District Council and Basepoint.'