Show your support for delivering social value in Brighton and Hove

At the most recent Construction Voice Event, First Base joined a panel of others to discuss the importance of delivering value to local communities.

We discussed the importance of social value – more than bricks and mortar; ensuring that we understand the challenges in the area and we design in initiatives that can help positively address these.

Our plans for the former Amex House (aka Wedding Cake) on Edward Street will deliver much needed homes and workspace for the City. More importantly for us, the plans will make a significant impact in addressing the unemployment and health inequality in the area.

The £100 millon development will include a high proportion of commercial space; capable of accommodating in excess of 1,250 jobs. We have included within the contracts for any organisation taking up space; a requirement to employ local people from the area. During the construction of the buildings, over 145 people will be recruited in a range of roles from manual labour, to administrative, community support and project management. We will work with local organisations to help skill up local people and get them ready to access the jobs.

Health and wellbeing is of vital importance and that is why we have designed in three new green spaces within the plans, full of trees and landscaping to bring fresh air and wildlife back into the area. New and existing communities will benefit from these spaces, open to everyone with games areas designed into the landscape as well as areas for quiet contemplation.

The plans will also deliver an additional boost to the area with an additional £4.2m in local spend from new staff and residents.

We listened to the need and we have responded with plans that will bring long lasting positive benefits to the local community and to Brighton and Hove.

Please show your support for our plans by clicking here

For more information, please visit www.edwardstreetquarter.com. 

Thanks to First Base for writing this blog

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk