AROUND 500 jobs are being created during building work on a £200 million power station.

Bosses at South Coast Power currently have been 40 and 50 staff preparing the site for the new power station at Shoreham.

During the two-year project the company says it will employ as many as 500 staff. It has promised at least half will be recruited from the Brighton, Hove and Shoreham areas.

Once complete, the 400 megawatt gas-fired plant will produce enough energy to power 400,000 homes.

The single chimney station is being built on the site of the old Brighton B power station, famous for its two chimneys, the last of which was demolished last year.

Pete Russell, construction manager for South Coast Power, said: "We are determined to be a good neighbour and it's excellent news for the local economy that many employees will be recruited locally."

Adur District Council has also welcomed the news as a boost in the battle to reduce unemployment.

Nigel Sweet, deputy leader of the council's Labour group, said: "Part of the discussions we had at the planning stage were about how many jobs there would be and if they would be made available to local people.

"This is a big boost to improving the prospects of the people of Shoreham and the surrounding area."

The jobs boost comes on top of South Coast Power's decision to pay more than £1 million in compensation for disruption caused by work on the gas pipeline that will lead to the power station.

The money will pay for environmental improvements in the South Portslade, North Portslade, Hangleton and Nevill wards.

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