Lord Heseltine
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW

22 February 2011

Dear Lord Heseltine,

Regional Growth Fund (R,GF) Application: RGFR1 0260
Brighton i360 - a major new tourist attraction

I am writing to ask you to back the application for the Brighton i360 tower - a major new tourist attraction for Brighton, which the Green Party fully support , as do all other political parties in Brighton and Hove.

As Brighton Pavilion's MP I am concerned about rising levels of unemployment in the city, so a major and immediate priority is the creation of extra jobs and training places. According to an independent study undertaken by the Audit Commission on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, Brighton and Hove's unemployment rate already high at 8.5% - above the South East average of 6.3%, and the NEET rate is 8.8% compared to an average of 6.2% in the South East.

The Audit Commission also identified that Brighton and Hove is far more reliant on public sector employment than other parts of the south east. The city is, therefore, likely to be hit harder by public sector cuts: 32.8% of jobs are in the public sector (local authority, health, education etc) compared to an average in England of 27.7%.

Brighton i360 tower will provide local jobs and training places for local people. According to an independent economic impact study, it is expected to generate 169 new full-time jobs, and apprenticeships and management training schemes for young people in hospitality, tourism and event management. 95% of these jobs are expected to come from the immediate travel to work area.

The development is also expected to result in an additional £13.9 million to £25.4 million tourism revenues being spent, thus acting as a catalyst for the creation of more jobs in Brighton's many tourism related businesses - hotels, food services, retail etc. Already 15.7% of our population work in these sectors.

We need this investment. Brighton and has two wards within the top 2% most deprived wards in the country and, like may seaside towns, tourism is vital to our local economy. This part of the seafront is run down and a priority for the City to regenerate.

The i360 tower is a sustainable development. It has been designed to be zero carbon and 20% of its energy will be supplied by giant wind turbines at the top of the tower. The rest of its power will come from electricity from a renewable energy supplier.

Sustainable design is central to the tower's development. For example, it reuses the base of the former West Pier, and conserves the two original kiosks and cast iron columns. Consumption of fresh water will be minimised through measures such as dual-flush toilets and water-efficient dishwashing equipment. The team are committed to using local and fair-trade suppliers and to minimising waste by applying the principle of "eliminate, reduce, reuse, recycle". Visitors will be encouraged to travel by public transport, walk or cycle to the site, which will also incorporate bike racks, staff showers and changing facilities for staff.

I believe the i360 would be the perfect symbol of Brighton as a green, sustainable, forward looking city.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion