GREATER Brighton leaders have hailed a visit from leading Whitehall officials as the next step in generating millions of pounds of investment to the City Region.

Leading officials from the government spent two days discovering more about the Greater Brighton Economic Board.

After learning more about the workings of the organisation - which is made up of local authorities, business leaders and academia representing nearly one million residents - the Whitehall team of about 20 high-level officials visited a series of projects which have benefited from the City Region.

Investment in the A27, funding for higher education and making better use of public sector land were also discussed.

Time was also spent developing new ideas and talking through ways in which central government and the City Region can work together to deliver future growth.

The result is that a list of “next steps” for GBEB will be discussed next month.

Councillor Andy Smith, GBEB chairman and leader of Lewes District Council, said: “It’s been a very productive few days and I’m delighted to say that officials were extremely impressed with what we have achieved so far.

“It’s rare to get such a high-level of visit and shows what we are doing on the south coast is being recognised nationally.

“The next step is to turn this into real genuine investment which will allow us to continue driving forward growth across our region.”

The first day saw delegates introduced to the area while understanding more about key housing and infrastructure issues.

This included a visit to the Brighton and Hove Albion training ground in Lancing, a tour of the Environment Agency’s Adur Tidal Walls scheme and trip to Shoreham Harbour.

The second day of the visit started with Geoff Raw, chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, mapping out how Greater Brighton is helping the region deliver.

Mr Raw mapped out the opportunities - skilled workforce, leading digital sector, two leading universities - of the area but also the challenges such as lack of housing, transport difficulties, inequality).

He also explained how since being founded in 2014, GBEB had already brought in £150 million of investment on a wide range of projects which will deliver 16,000 homes and 24,000 jobs.

Mr Raw said: “Working together we have delivered a strong and distinctive brand for the city region that is and will attract investment.”

Delegates went on the trip on the i360, the world’s first vertical cable car on Brighton seafront.

The group toured the recently-opened £14 million Advanced Engineering Centre at the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb campus which was funded through GBEB and is developing the engineers of the future.

The delegation met leading academics and heard how the University of Brighton and the University of Sussex are leading the way nationally and internationally in areas like internal combustion engines.