POLITICIANS have given their backing to an innovative new project to develop a unique reuse depot in shipping containers.

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas and Green councillors have given their backing to the project launched by Freegle founder Cat Fletcher this week.

The crowdfunding project is already an eighth of the way towards achieving their £10,000 target after just a few days.

The proposed seven-day centre will have a drop-off and collection points for residents wanting to pass on items such as furniture, building materials and clothes for reuse as well as a room for Brighton repair cafe.

Facilities will be provided for a scrap and materials store for artists, students, schools, festivals and creative projects, a “library of things” hosting items such as ladders, drills or TVs that people can borrow, a drop-off point for donations to charities and reuse organisations, and space to run community events and education programs based around “resourcefulness”.

Councillor Phélim MacCafferty, Green Group convenor, said: “We wish this visionary project every success and urge supporters to make a contribution to crowdfunding this important campaign for our city.

“Cleaning up litter costs the taxpayer about £1 billion a year and simply far too much of this is perfectly usable.”

Ms Lucas said: “I sincerely hope that this fantastic project gets the funding required to expand.

“This scheme would help promote the further re-use of unwanted goods and materials, and build upon the great work of Cat Fletcher and others.”

To help fund the scheme visit crowdfunder.co.uk/city-reuse-depot.