Sussex And The City

About Sussex And The City

Sussex And The City is the essential podcast for anyone curious about the future of place, power, and prosperity in Sussex. Hosted by Richard Freeman, each episode unpacks the people, policies and economics shaping one of the UK's most complex and compelling regions. Focused on forthcoming devolution and local government reorganisation, we're telling the Sussex and Brighton story in the 21st century. From climate action and infrastructure to growth, enterprise and identity, this is where business leaders, community voices, policy wonks and creative thinkers share bold ideas for what Sussex could become. Join us for lively conversations, expert insights and provocative questions at a time of major change — whether you're in Brighton or Battle, Crawley or Chichester. New episodes weekly. Always independent. Of, from, and for, Sussex.

Publisher

always possible

Category

news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 May 2025

Latest episode

9 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

69 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Nov 2026

   #69: Is Wales Showing Sussex How To Do Devolution Differently?

   The Sussex And The City Podcast Episode #69 Is Wales Showing Sussex How To Do Devolution Differently? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Jane Davidson – former Welsh Government minister, author and sustainability leader Episode summary What if the decisions we make about Sussex today had to take account of people who won't be born for another fifty years? As the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority prepares to agree its draft prosperity strategy, it's a particularly timely question. The decisions being made now about housing, transport, infrastructure, investment and economic development could shape the region for generations. But how do we make sure those decisions are about more than short-term economic growth? And what might Sussex learn from somewhere that's already tried to change the way government thinks? Our guest this week is Jane Davidson, a former Welsh Government minister who helped put sustainable development and the wellbeing of future generations at the heart of public decision-making in Wales. Jane spent more than a decade in government, introducing the UK's first charge for single-use carrier bags, helping transform Wales's approach to recycling, and developing policies that would eventually contribute to one of the most distinctive pieces of legislation in modern British government. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 requires Welsh public bodies to consider the long-term social, economic, environmental and cultural consequences of their decisions. The idea is that Government shouldn't improve life for people today by making life worse for the people who come after us. But turning that principle into something that actually changes decisions is considerably more complicated. Jane explains how Wales moved from a general commitment to sustainable development towards legal duties, seven national wellbeing goals and five ways of working: long-term thinking, prevention, integration, collaboration and involvement. And it's that final principle that she keeps coming back to. The people affected by decisions should be involved in making them. We explore how Wales developed its approach, why good intentions aren't enough without mechanisms for delivery, and what happened when businesses, universities, communities and politicians began working towards a shared ambition. There are some fascinating examples along the way, from carrier bag charges and recycling targets to the Welsh businesses experimenting with giving nature and future generations a formal voice in corporate decisions. For Sussex, the comparison raises some important questions. Our new strategic authority is developing a prosperity strategy before the election of its first mayor. It has an opportunity to establish principles that will guide future investment, but it also faces the challenge of bringing together communities, institutions and places that haven't always thought of themselves as part of one region. And unlike Wales, Sussex won't have its own national legislature or the same powers to impose statutory duties. So how much of the Welsh approach could we adopt voluntarily? Could the strategic authority commit to a shared definition of prosperity that includes health, fairness, nature and resilience alongside economic performance? Could businesses, universities, councils and community organisations adopt similar principles? And could we develop a genuinely distinctive Sussex way of making decisions, rather than simply giving familiar approaches a new regional label? Jane is clear that Wales hasn't got everything right. But its experience demonstrates that long-term change is possible when ambition is supported by practical structures, public participation and a willingness to learn. She also reminds us that devolution is only the starting point. What matters is what people choose to do with the powers and opportunities available to them. This is a conversation about systems thinking, democracy, sustainable development, prosperity, intergenerational fairness and the possibilities of devolution. And perhaps the biggest question is whether Sussex can build a shared vision that belongs not just to its future mayor or strategic authority, but to the people who live and work here. Because the future of Sussex is being shaped now. And the people who will inherit it deserve a place in the conversation. A production note: this conversation was originally recorded several months ago, but a technical mishap meant that part of the recording had to be reconstructed. Jane generously returned to record the missing section, so listeners may notice a slight change in the audio partway through. -- This episode is brought to you by Be Business Energy Wise Be Business Energy Wise is a fully funded programme helping East Sussex businesses take control of energy costs and make smarter sustainability decisions. Businesses can access free practical one-to-one support, detailed on-site energy assessments where eligible, and workshops covering energy efficiency, sustainability marketing and reducing waste through the circular economy. You don't need an existing sustainability strategy or specialist knowledge. The programme helps businesses understand where they are now, what could make a difference and what's worth doing next. Be Business Energy Wise is funded by the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority and East Sussex County Council, managed by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Always Possible. Find out more at alwayspossible.co.uk/be-business-energy-wise. In this episode Jane's journey from teaching and youth work into politics and systems change How Wales pioneered the UK's single-use carrier bag charge The policies that helped transform Welsh recycling Why sustainable development needs legal duties, not simply good intentions The origins of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 The seven national wellbeing goals and what they mean for prosperity The five ways of working: long-term thinking, prevention, integration, collaboration and involvement Why involving people in decisions is essential to lasting change How the UN Sustainable Development Goals influenced the Welsh approach What Sussex could learn from Wales without having the same legislative powers The opportunities presented by the Sussex and Brighton prosperity strategy Why businesses might give nature and future generations a formal voice The importance of cross-party support and shared long-term ambitions Donella Meadows and the principles of effective systems change What a genuinely distinctive Sussex way of working might look like About the guest Jane Davidson is a former Welsh Government minister, author and internationally recognised advocate for sustainable development and the wellbeing of future generations. She served in the Welsh Government from 2000 to 2011, holding ministerial responsibilities for education, the environment, sustainability and housing. During this period, she introduced pioneering environmental policies, including the UK's first charge for single-use carrier bags, and helped establish the foundations of Wales's long-term approach to sustainable development. Her work contributed to the development of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, which places sustainable development duties on public bodies and has attracted international interest. Following her political career, Jane became Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where she worked to embed sustainability in education and institutional practice. She has also chaired the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group. She is the author of #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country, which explores how Wales developed its approach to legislating for the interests of future generations, and what other places can learn from that experience. Links and further reading Jane Davidson's website (https://janedavidson.wales/) – her work on sustainability, systems change and future generations. #futuregen: Lessons from a Small Country (https://janedavidson.wales/book) – Jane's book about the development of Wales's pioneering legislation. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act – Welsh Government's explanation of the legislation and its seven wellbeing goals. Future Generations Commissioner for Wales (https://futuregenerations.wales/) – practical resources, examples and guidance on applying the Act, including the five ways of working. Wales Net Zero 2035 (https://netzero2035.wales/) – the independent challenge group chaired by Jane, including its reports on pathways towards net zero. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) – the international framework that helped inform the Welsh approach. Faith in Nature (https://www.faithinnature.co.uk/) – the Welsh business discussed in the episode for giving nature a voice in company decision-making. House of Hackney (https://www.houseofhackney.com/) – the business discussed for incorporating nature and future generations into its governance. Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority (https://www.sussexandbrighton.org.uk/) – information about devolution and the region's developing strategic priorities. Sussex Intelligence Unit (https://sussexintelligence.com/) – independent research on prosperity, infrastructure, governance and belonging across Sussex. Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Jane Davidson Sound design, editing and original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey, Lo-Fi Arts Production management: Letitia McConalogue, Always Possible Get involved sussexandthecity.info – episodes, resources, events and more about devolution and change across Sussex. sussexintelligence.com – independent research and evidence-led insight into growth, infrastructure, governance and belonging across Sussex.

2. 

   2 Nov 2026

   #68: Are We About To Repeat Sussex's Planning Mistakes At A Bigger Scale?

   The Sussex And The City Podcast Episode #68 Are We About To Repeat Sussex's Planning Mistakes At A Bigger Scale? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Chris Todd – campaigner, activist and founder of Transport Action Network Episode summary Sussex is changing the way it governs itself. But will that change the decisions we make about where we build homes, how we travel and what prosperity actually means? Or are we about to repeat decades of planning mistakes, only on a much bigger scale? Our guest this week is Chris Todd, an environmental and transport campaigner who has spent more than 30 years challenging conventional thinking about development, infrastructure and the environment. Chris was involved in the campaign against the proposed South Coast Superhighway, helped secure the creation of the South Downs National Park in 2010, chaired the partnership that achieved UNESCO Biosphere status for the Brighton and Lewes Downs, and founded Transport Action Network in 2019. He's seen major changes in public policy before. He's also seen what happens when communities challenge established assumptions, and when decision-makers are unwilling to listen. For Chris, the creation of the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority offers an important opportunity to rethink how we plan for the region. But he worries that new structures could end up reproducing familiar approaches, with economic growth and infrastructure investment taking precedence over health, nature, resilience and people's everyday lives. We explore what we actually mean by prosperity. If success is measured primarily through GDP, GVA and investment, what happens to housing affordability, inequality, environmental quality and access to opportunity? Chris questions whether the emerging strategic arrangements give sufficient prominence to these wider concerns. I offer a slightly different perspective, drawing on conversations about inclusive growth, wellbeing and the intentions behind the authority's developing prosperity framework. The disagreement raises an important question: is it enough to embed these ambitions across everything an authority does, or do they need explicit responsibilities and accountability to prevent them disappearing into the background? Housing is another major part of our conversation. Chris argues that Sussex doesn't simply need more homes. It needs the right homes, in the right places, connected to existing communities, public transport and essential services. He describes expensive new developments in rural Sussex that do little to address affordability, alongside sprawling, car-dependent housing estates that place additional pressure on roads and services. We discuss whether more compact, better-connected development could provide a different approach, including an example from Chippenham where an alternative masterplan proposed accommodating thousands of homes on substantially less land. And then there's transport. Chris challenges the assumption that improved connectivity necessarily means building more roads. For someone who cannot afford to own a car, a new dual carriageway might do very little to improve access to work, education or services. A reliable bus, a safe cycling route or better connections between rural communities and nearby towns could make a much greater difference. We explore the opportunities for the strategic authority to improve transport across Sussex, from relatively modest bus priority measures and active travel schemes to longer-term decisions about how the region's network should function. There's also a fascinating discussion about Brighton and Hove, where relatively low car ownership, a compact urban form and an extensive bus network offer lessons for other parts of Sussex. Chris is certainly critical of aspects of the emerging arrangements. But his career is also evidence that seemingly immovable systems can change. The South Downs National Park exists because people spent years arguing that a different approach to protecting and managing the landscape was possible. And when I ask him what a successful Sussex might look like in fifteen years, his answer is optimistic. Thriving towns and cities that have rediscovered what makes them distinctive, rather than becoming traffic corridors. Rural and urban communities that are better connected. And a transport network that allows people to get almost anywhere without being forced to own a car. This is a conversation about planning, transport, housing, environmental protection, public accountability and the choices that will shape Sussex for generations. The question isn't simply whether devolution gives us more power. It's whether we'll use that power to do things differently. --- This episode is brought to you by Be Business Energy Wise Be Business Energy Wise is a fully funded programme helping East Sussex businesses take control of energy costs and make smarter sustainability decisions. Businesses can access free practical one-to-one support, detailed on-site energy assessments where eligible, and workshops covering energy efficiency, sustainability marketing and reducing waste through the circular economy. You don't need an existing sustainability strategy or specialist knowledge. The programme helps businesses understand where they are now, what could make a difference and what's worth doing next. Be Business Energy Wise is funded by the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority and East Sussex County Council, managed by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Always Possible. Find out more at alwayspossible.co.uk/be-business-energy-wise. In this episode Chris's journey from Friends of the Earth to national transport campaigning The campaign to establish the South Downs National Park How communities can challenge powerful institutions and change policy The opportunities and risks of devolution and local government reorganisation Why public accountability and oversight matter as powers are devolved Whether Sussex is defining prosperity too narrowly The developing Sussex and Brighton prosperity framework and its five working assumptions Why housing affordability is about more than simply increasing supply The problems with isolated, car-dependent housing developments How more compact development could protect countryside and support local businesses What improved connectivity should mean for people without cars The case for investment in buses, walking and cycling Why Brighton and Hove's transport patterns are distinctive How rural communities could be better connected to towns and cities Chris's vision for Sussex in ten to fifteen years About the guest Chris Todd is an environmental and sustainable transport campaigner with more than three decades of experience working with communities, charities and public bodies. His campaigning began in the early 1990s through Friends of the Earth and opposition to major road-building proposals across southern England. He subsequently played an important role in the campaign to establish the South Downs National Park, which was designated in 2010. Chris also chaired the partnership responsible for securing UNESCO Biosphere status for the Brighton and Lewes Downs in 2014, and spent five years working with the Campaign for Better Transport. In 2019, he founded Transport Action Network, which supports communities campaigning for more sustainable transport and challenges road schemes on environmental, social and economic grounds. Having grown up in Sussex, Chris brings a combination of local knowledge, national campaigning experience and a longstanding interest in how planning decisions affect communities, landscapes and people's everyday lives. Links and further reading Transport Action Network (https://transportactionnetwork.org.uk/) – the organisation founded by Chris to support communities campaigning for better transport. Chris Todd's background – his campaigning career and the development of Transport Action Network. South Downs National Park (https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/) – the national park Chris helped campaign to establish. The Living Coast (https://thelivingcoast.org.uk/) – the UNESCO Biosphere region around Brighton, Lewes and the Downs. Campaign for Better Transport (https://bettertransport.org.uk/) – the national charity where Chris previously worked. Stepping off the Road to Nowhere – the Create Streets and Sustrans alternative to road-led housing development in Chippenham. Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority (https://www.sussexandbrighton.org.uk/) – information about the strategic authority and devolution. Sussex Intelligence Unit (https://sussexintelligence.com/) – research and evidence on the region's economy, infrastructure, governance and communities. Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Chris Todd Sound design, editing and original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue Get involved sussexandthecity.info – episodes, resources, events and more about devolution and change across Sussex. sussexintelligence.com – independent research and evidence-led insight into growth, infrastructure, governance and belonging across Sussex.

3. 

   26 Oct 2026

   #67: Sussex Is A 'Thing' And We Wunt Be Druv. But What Do We Want Instead?

   The Sussex And The City Podcast Episode #67 Sussex Is A 'Thing' And We Wunt Be Druv. But What Do We Want Instead? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: John V. Willshire – strategic designer, writer and founder of Smithery Episode summary Sussex is a thing. Obviously. But what sort of thing? And who gets to decide? My guest this week is John V. Willshire, a strategic designer, writer and founder of Smithery, a consultancy that has spent 15 years helping organisations think differently about change. John's guiding principle is to help people make things people want, rather than make people want things. And recently, he's been applying that philosophy to Sussex. Drawing on the work of French philosopher Bruno Latour, John explores the ancient meaning of the word thing: a gathering of people brought together to discuss matters of shared concern. So Sussex isn't simply a geographical boundary or an administrative arrangement. It's a complicated collection of communities, landscapes, histories, institutions, relationships and competing priorities. And devolution is asking us to start treating all of that as one strategic region. John and I have been exploring some of these questions through the Sussex Futures Network, a deliberately informal platform for bringing people together to experiment with different ways of thinking about Sussex's future. One of those experiments has involved playing card games. Inspired by the nineteenth-century Chartist movement and a contemporary charter-building game developed by Our House, John and collaborators have created a Sussex-specific game that invites people to imagine different forms of democracy. Players combine cards showing who might hold power – from mayors, councillors and citizens' assemblies to rivers and even beavers – with cards showing how that power might be exercised. They then imagine the worst possible outcomes, or dreadocracy, and the best possible outcomes, or dreamocracy. It's playful and often absurd and very revealing. Because when people are invited to experiment with democracy, rather than simply respond to proposals somebody else has written, they begin to recognise that political structures aren't fixed. They're things people have designed, and therefore things people might redesign. We've played the game at Colonnade House in Worthing and Bull House in Lewes, the former home of Thomas Paine, whose writing helped inspire the American Revolution. There's something appropriate about sitting in that building, more than 250 years later, imagining different ways political power might work. The conversation also takes us into the recent history of the Sussex Charter, written in 2006 by local resident Ian Steedman, and the establishment of Sussex Day on 16th June. John finds something liberating in the discovery that a document which feels like an ancient declaration of Sussex identity was actually invented less than twenty years ago. If somebody could invent a Sussex Charter, what else might we invent? Could Sussex Day become an annual opportunity to discuss the future rather than simply celebrate the past? Could schools, community groups, businesses and councils experiment with different forms of participation? And could the new strategic authority build curiosity and play into the way it engages people? Running through the conversation is that famous Sussex motto, "We wunt be druv." John sees it as something more useful than a nostalgic declaration of stubbornness. It's permission to do things differently. But there's an important question underneath that independent spirit. It's one thing to insist that we won't be told what to do. It's quite another to work out what we want instead. And that means bringing more people into the conversation, including those who wouldn't ordinarily attend a consultation, read a strategy document or think that local democracy has much to do with them. Towards the end of our conversation, John offers a provocation. What if Sussex's biggest export in fifteen years was play? Not simply games or entertainment, but play as a serious method for solving problems, challenging assumptions, imagining alternatives and bringing people together. This is a conversation about design, democracy, Thomas Paine, Sussex identity, devolution and the possibility that our future doesn't have to be something somebody else has already decided. Because democracy isn't simply something we have. It's something we do. --- This episode is brought to you by Be Business Energy Wise Be Business Energy Wise is a fully funded programme helping East Sussex businesses take control of energy costs and make smarter sustainability decisions. Businesses can access free practical one-to-one support, detailed on-site energy assessments where eligible, and workshops covering energy efficiency, sustainability marketing and reducing waste through the circular economy. You don't need an existing sustainability strategy or specialist knowledge. The programme helps businesses understand where they are now, what could make a difference and what's worth doing next. Be Business Energy Wise is funded by the Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority and East Sussex County Council, managed by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Always Possible. Find out more at alwayspossible.co.uk/be-business-energy-wise. In this episode John's career in strategic design and the philosophy behind Smithery Why Sussex is a thing, and what that actually means How devolution is bringing together a complicated collection of communities and identities The origins and ambitions of the Sussex Futures Network Why democracy should be something people do, rather than simply something they have The surprising history of the Sussex Charter and Sussex Day What "We wunt be druv" might mean for the future of Sussex The influence of the Chartist movement and Thomas Paine How the Sussex democracy game works Imagining dreadocracy and dreamocracy Why rivers, wildlife and beavers might have a place in democratic conversations Playing with democracy at Bull House in Lewes How games could involve people who don't normally engage with politics Why Sussex Day could become an annual conversation about the future How councils and the strategic authority might embrace experimentation Whether Sussex could become known as a place where serious play drives change About the guest John V. Willshire is a strategic designer, writer and founder of Smithery (https://smithery.com/), an independent strategic design practice established in 2011. Previously Chief Innovation Officer at PHD Media in London, John works with organisations to explore possible futures, develop new ideas and turn complex challenges into practical experiments. His clients have included the BBC, LEGO, Unilever, Wellcome and the United Nations Development Programme. He also created Artefact Cards, a hands-on tool for creative thinking, and has taught innovation and future thinking at IED Barcelona and the Royal College of Art. Although a native Scot, John has lived in Sussex for nearly twenty years and is helping develop the Sussex Futures Network, exploring how design, play and participation might shape the county's democratic future. Links and further reading Smithery (https://smithery.com/) – John's strategic design practice. John V. Willshire's writing (https://smithery.com/author/john-v-willshire/) – essays on design, futures and experimentation, including Sussex is a Thing. We Wunt Be Druv (https://wewuntbedruv.org/) – the Sussex democracy game, with information about taking part. The Spirit of Thomas Paine – John's account of playing the game at Bull House on Sussex Day. Our House (https://ourhouseuk.org/) – the people-powered democracy movement behind the original charter-building game. The Sussex Charter and Sussex Day – the charter's text and the story of Ian Steedman's initiative. Bull House, Lewes – the history of Thomas Paine's former home. Artefact Cards (https://artefactshop.com/) – John's creative thinking tools. Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Guest: John V. Willshire Sound design, editing and original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue Get involved sussexandthecity.info – episodes, resources, events and more about devolution and change across Sussex. sussexintelligence.com – independent research and evidence-led insight into growth, infrastructure, governance and belonging across Sussex.

Who has been a guest on Sussex And The City

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• Dan Shelley
• Kaia Allen-Bevan
• Stuart Drew
• Rose Tighe
• Dr Lewis White

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