Initiative will help champion city and showcase its unique qualities
Published 10:23 on 16 Jun 2026
An initiative aimed at raising Chichester's profile and attracting more commercial investment will see a Place Board and an Ambassador Programme established to help engage businesses and other organisations to champion the city and wider area.
A key action in the Chichester Regeneration Strategy, the Place Identity and Branding Project seeks to actively support promoting Chichester, helping to present the city and wider district in a more consistent, confident and impactful way.
The place branding and visual identity was developed through extensive engagement with partners, businesses and the community, and reflects what makes Chichester unique: its rich history, cultural strength, natural environment and ambitious outlook.
Working with specialist consultants thinkingplace, views about Chichester were sought from the council, its partners, residents and businesses with more than 40 place conversations and six workshops held, plus a public survey that attracted 500 responses.
These views have informed a compelling new place narrative — a unified story that captures Chichester's identity, strengths and future ambition and a visual language to guide the joined-up use of imagery, colour, design, and visual elements to tell a compelling story about Chichesters character, values, and experience.
A place narrative is a clear and consistent way of presenting the character, strengths and distinctiveness of an area, helping more people understand what it offers and why it stands out, explains Councillor Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Property. A strong, unified, and shared identity can benefit the whole area — its businesses, organisations and visitor attractions — by creating a single, confident voice and image for Chichester and the surrounding area that can be used by all those with an interest in the area. I would like to thank all of the stakeholders who have helped to shape and develop this place narrative — their contributions have been invaluable in capturing what makes Chichester so special.
We want to boost the local economy, attract commercial investment, encourage families to live in the area, and increase visitor numbers by showcasing the Chichester areas unique qualities and opportunities.
There are so many exceptional aspects to Chichester, from its rich heritage and cultural offer to its outstanding natural landscapes, thriving businesses and vibrant communities, but there is still a significant opportunity to tell Chichester's story in a clearer, more consistent and impactful way.
Research shows that a strong place brand is vital to the economic development and wellbeing of an area. It can create jobs and opportunities for residents, support the growth of local businesses, strengthen the visitor economy and cultural offer, enhance the reputation of an area, and help drive further improvement and investment.
Towns and cities across the UK — including York, Bath and Shrewsbury — have already demonstrated the positive impact that a place brand can have, including generating increased inward investment and business development, to wider economic benefits and growth in tourism.
At its meeting on Tuesday 9 June, Chichester District Councils Cabinet agreed for a dedicated Place Board to be set up, which will be made up of representatives from partners and organisations from Chichester and the surrounding area. The Board will oversee an ambassador programme and deliver the project going forwards so that Chichester is presented in a unified, consistent and confident manner, and showcasing its assets effectively.
Cllr Moss adds: Our area has so much to be proud of and we want to shine a light on everything that makes it such a special place, while supporting our existing businesses and organisations and helping to attract new ones. By working with partners and businesses, we can embed the place brand and reach more people. We want to ensure that Chichester and the surrounding area is a place where businesses choose to locate, stay and grow, and we want to celebrate all the natural, cultural and economic assets that surround the city. This will strengthen our economy, and create new opportunities for everyone who lives, works, studies or visits here.