Business leaders were asked to commit themselves to "positive thinking" to ensure the West Sussex economy is not left in a time warp.
At a recent meeting of the West Sussex Economic Partnership, chief executive Alistair Smith urged delegates to ditch reactionary attitudes.
He said: "We have some real success stories in large and small businesses in the globally expanding knowledge sectors and the enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit to succeed. We also have the quality of life to attract businesses and the brains behind them so long as we aren't petrified by nimbyism."
He urged business leaders to engage in "proactive, rational and imaginative" debate about housing to prevent the region becoming one great dormitory town.
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