Devolution and the rural economy: what Sussex can learn from its land and people

When people talk about devolution in Sussex, the conversation often focuses on cities, transport networks and coastal economies. But step away from the seafronts and business districts and another Sussex appears: vineyards climbing chalk hillsides, dairy farms and horticulture businesses, forestry, tourism and environmental management.

These activities are not marginal to the Sussex economy. They shape the county’s identity, landscape and a significant part of its economic output. Insights from contributors to the Sussex And The City project suggest that understanding this rural economy will be essential if devolution is to succeed.

A modern rural economy

The rural economy in Sussex is often misunderstood. Agriculture and land-based industries are sometimes portrayed as traditional sectors in slow decline. In reality they are changing rapidly and becoming increasingly technology driven.

On the Sussex And The City podcast, Jeremy Kerswell, Principal and Chief Executive of Plumpton College, describes these industries as dynamic and innovative, despite facing national skills shortages. From robotic milking systems to data-controlled greenhouses, modern agriculture depends as much on digital analysis and engineering as it does on traditional farming skills.

Viticulture offers a clear example. Sussex has become one of the UK’s most significant wine-producing regions. But producing world-class sparkling wine requires expertise in soil science, climate modelling, global marketing and advanced production techniques.

The rural economy, in other words, is no longer low-tech. Yet policy and public perception often lag behind the reality.

Devolution could help close that gap.

Skills and productivity

A recurring theme in Sussex And The City conversations is the relationship between skills and economic growth.

Land-based sectors, such as agriculture, horticulture, environmental management and food production, face persistent skills shortages across the UK. At the same time they offer strong potential for productivity growth and innovation.

Institutions like Plumpton College sit at the centre of this transition. Located on an 800-hectare estate in the South Downs, the college operates as both an education provider and a working commercial enterprise. Its estate includes a dairy farm, a vineyard and winery, horticultural facilities and apprenticeship programmes linked directly to industry.

Students are not learning in simulated environments. They are working in real businesses and real supply chains, from producing wine to selling food products.

This approach reflects a wider point. If Sussex wants to grow its rural economy, education and economic strategy must be closely aligned. Skills development is not a side issue. It is one of the main drivers of productivity in sectors like food production, agriculture and land management.

Infrastructure and access

However, aligning skills with economic opportunity requires addressing a more practical challenge: access.

Transport remains a major barrier across rural Sussex. Colleges, training providers and employers are often difficult to reach without a car. For young people especially, this can limit access to education and employment.

Colleges outside of city centres spend significant resources simply helping students get to campus. That reflects a wider structural problem rather than an isolated challenge.

A devolved Sussex mayoralty could begin to address this disconnect. By linking transport planning with economic development and education policy, it could improve access to opportunities across rural areas.

Without better infrastructure, the rural economy will struggle to attract the workforce it needs.

Growth and stewardship

Another tension often raised in discussions about Sussex is the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection.

The county’s landscape, from the South Downs to its coastal ecosystems, is one of its defining assets. Yet these landscapes are also working environments supporting farming, tourism and environmental innovation.

For Kerswell, the challenge is not choosing between growth and conservation but managing both together. Food production, environmental stewardship and economic development must operate in balance.

This balance will require new approaches to sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation and land management. It will also require strong collaboration between education institutions, research bodies, businesses and policymakers.

Sussex already has many of the ingredients needed for this transition. What is often missing is coordination.

Sussex as a system of communities

The rural perspective also highlights a deeper point about Sussex itself.

As placemaking expert Dr Cara Courage argues in her expert blog for Sussex And The City, Sussex should not be understood as a single place but as a network of interconnected communities. Coastal towns, villages, cities and rural landscapes all have distinct identities.

Devolution therefore needs to recognise this complexity. Rather than imposing a single model of economic development, it should build connections between these different communities.

A place-based approach sees Sussex as a system of relationships: communities of place, communities of interest and communities of impact. Farmers, small businesses, creative organisations and environmental groups are all part of the same ecosystem.

In rural areas especially, economic, environmental and social issues are closely linked. Decisions in one area inevitably affect the others.

The rural test for devolution

In many ways, the rural economy will be the real test of Sussex devolution.

If a new mayoral authority focuses only on urban growth strategies, it risks overlooking the industries and landscapes that define much of the region. But if it recognises the rural economy as a site of innovation and opportunity, Sussex could become a national leader in areas such as sustainable food production and environmental technology.

The building blocks already exist. What devolution offers is the chance to connect them.