THREE of the city’s heritage gems are all competing for a slice of a multi-million Government funding pot.

Community Interest Companies hoping to bring the Saltdean Lido and Brighton Hippodrome back into operation have joined Brighton and Hove City Council in submitting bids to the Coastal Communities Fund.

They are joined by at least six other Sussex bids in the highly-competitive process.

With just £36 million available nationwide, it seems likely that only one or two local bids will succeed.

Brighton and Hove City Council submitted a maximum £4 million bid to kickstart the restoration of the Madeira Terraces.

Saltdean Lido CIC has also submitted a £3.7 million bid for the restoration of the pool’s art deco building while Hippodrome supporters are looking for £3.6 million to begin repairs on the historic theatre.

Additionally, Seaford Town Council has bid for £450,000 to construct six luxury log cabins near Seaford Head Golf Club while Lewes District Council is looking to fund a Seaford Innovation and Enterprise Hub at Cradle Hill Industrial Estate.

Wave Leisure is leading a bid for a visitor and education centre at Newhaven Fort while Hastings Borough Council has bid for a total of £1 million for a three pronged project involving improvements to the pier, creating a new business incubator space and a coaching programme at The Source BMX and skateboard park.

West Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council have also submitted bids.

Brighton Hippodrome CIC’s David Fisher said the money would pay for dilapidation repairs, making the building waterproof and safe and secure as the first of three stages to reopening the grade II* listed theatre.

He said: “This we hope would be about a third of the cost of getting it open and it would be a setback if we didn’t get it.

“We can see our way to getting the theatre reopened, it is achievable, but it would leave a shortfall without it and we could be in a difficult position raising money in different ways.

“It could become competitive, we don’t want to be in a position where someone else gets it but also we wouldn’t want to get it but the terraces or Lido don’t.”