Edward Street Quarter

Project overview

Providing social value was always at the heart of a mixed-use development which aims to provide Brighton & Hove with a new creative community in which people can live, work and socialise.

The seaside city is famous for its free thinking and creativity, and has become a hotbed for entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups and SMEs. But the region has long suffered from a lack of A-grade office space, stifling local growth.

Edward Street Quarter, built on the site of the old Amex House in Brighton city centre, aims to solve that problem with a development that is underpinned by place-making and sustainability, true to the Brighton spirit.

Social Value

The development aims to provide up to £400m in social, economic and environmental value over 20 years, and is committed to delivering more social value throughout the construction and operation period.

This will be achieved by continuing to employ and train local people, supporting local businesses, working to improve health and wellbeing and focusing on the local environment.

A social value measurement framework was set out at the beginning of the project, incorporating the results of a public consultation and local needs analysis, setting precise targets for a range of key ambitions in conjunction with the city council.

This includes:

• More local people in employment
• More opportunities for disadvantaged people, reducing inequalities
• Improved skills for local people and improved employability of young people
• More opportunities for local SMEs and VCSEs
• Sustaining the city’s ability to attract investment and growth
• Improving staff wellbeing
• A workforce and culture which reflects the diversity of the local community
• Ethical procurement
• Reduction in crime
• Creating a healthier community
• Vulnerable people are helped to live independently
• Increased level of working with the community
• Climate impact and air pollution is reduced

Delivery

Over £13m of benefits were generated during the first ten months of construction phase, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Highlights include:

• Working with local resident associations on the production of a newsletter
• Supporting a community gardening project
• Supporting clean streets and tidy-ups, through litter-picking and window-washing
• Supporting vulnerable residents, with transport to hospital and donations of food
• Promoting sustainable and healthy eating through spinach seed distribution
• Supporting local care workers with care packages
• Supporting local events, such as winter fair and school Christmas celebrations
• Financial support for a ‘young city reads’ project
• Delivering a public art project
• Regular community meetings and communications via text, phone and web
• Actively supporting local employment
• Local training programmes, apprenticeships, upskilling adults, providing opportunities for young NEETs and ex-offenders
• A focus on local procurement and supply-chain
• Supporting local businesses and community groups with business advice and networking opportunities

With more than £13m in social value already achieved, the project is on course to meet its aims by delivering a development which benefits the community it serves in a meaningful and measurable way.