By Tim Dudding

The newly appointed President of the Institute of Civil Engineers, Mrs Jean Venables, is visiting the site of Albion's new Community Stadium today as part of a two-day visit to the city of Brighton and Hove.

The club's £93 million Community Stadium is currently the largest project underway in the city and is being developed in partnership with the City Council, the University of Brighton and SEEDA. It is part of the major regeneration of the Falmer area which will include the stadium, new buildings for both the University of Brighton and University of Sussex, the new City Academy at Falmer High School and major improvements to the infrastructure being funded by SEEDA.

Mrs Venables will be welcomed to Brighton and Hove by the Cabinet Member for Major Projects, Councillor Ted Kemble.

Albion Chief Executive Martin Perry said, "The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government recognised when she granted planning permission for our new stadium, that the project would create opportunities for education, skills training and jobs as well as providing a wonderful new facility for the city of Brighton and Hove.

"We are now beginning to deliver on those promises. We are grateful for the huge amount of support that the City Council has given us to get us to this position and we recognise the vital role now that the civil engineers will play in helping us put together this exciting structure which will be a landmark building in the city."

Mrs Venables said, "The role of civil engineers in the design and supervision of major regeneration projects is vital.

"Engineers make a huge contribution to the local economy by creating jobs, improving infrastructure and protecting the environment.

"It is wonderful to see, even in these difficult economic times, visionary projects underway, which when complete will provide huge social and economic benefits and have a massive impact on the local community."

Mr Kemble added, "With the recession hitting construction hard it's tremendous to see a big project like this progressing and for the council to be involved as a partner."

"This scheme not only creates a new home for the Albion but also helps sustain hundreds of jobs in construction and civil engineering now and a wide range of other jobs in future. That's something the club and council can be very proud of."