A council has appointed an economic development czar.

Nick Hibberd has been appointed to the new post of head of city regeneration at Brighton and Hove City Council.

A spokesperson for the council said that Mr Hibberd will work closely with the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership to boost public and private investment in key projects such as the i360.

Mr Hibberd will also lead a £100 million programme of housing estate regeneration.

The spokesperson said: “Bringing together a number of specialist teams under one head will improve the efficiency of the council and help to focus investment resources. “The council has an important enabling role in supporting the business sector in the city in sustaining existing employment and generating new jobs and training opportunities. “Brighton & Hove city council has recently been invited by Government to submit proposals for a new City Deal initiative which the team will be submitting in the New Year.”

Tony Mernagh, executive director at the Brighton & Hove Economic partnership, said: “Nick Hibberd has a wide range of experience and is well regarded within the city council. The Economic Partnership already works closely with local authority officers both above and below this new post and I look forward to working with him as well on the challenges we face.”