Plans to build an eco-town in Sussex have been given a boost following a Government u-turn.

There was concern for the future of the scheme to build about 5,000 zero-carbon homes at Shoreham Harbour and create a similar number of new jobs when the coalition Government cut its funding in half.

The Labour administration had previously promised £1.5 million to allow Adur District Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and West Sussex County Councils to work up their plans.

Now Henry Cleary, deputy director of the Department of Communities and Local Government, has announced it will receive nearly £2 million in funding.

Some of the money will be spent on a demonstration project at the harbour to show off environmentally-friendly, energy efficient, sustainable and attractive designs to encourage and attract developers to get on board.