Ministers are backing plans for a science and technology park in Burgess Hill through a government programme intended to revive industrial projects that have struggled to progress.
Officials confirmed that they are working with local partners on the proposed Sussex development.
The project is among the first schemes being considered for support under the Strategic Sites Accelerator, a £700 million initiative launched on November 2.
The programme provides a mixture of loans, equity, grant funding and technical assistance for between six and ten developments judged to be nationally important across the UK.
Burgess Hill has been identified as a potential beneficiary because the proposed 90,000 sq metre technology park has encountered persistent difficulties since it was first put forward in 2018.
It was recently named as a priority in the renewed Mid Sussex Growth Deal, agreed by Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council.
Once completed, the development is expected to draw businesses from the technology sector and generate thousands of skilled positions.
Government backing is also being examined for other stalled sites in Sheffield and Glasgow, with further proposals under consideration in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
The funding package is designed to address several obstacles that can prevent major developments from advancing.
These include delays in securing grid connections, bottlenecks in the planning system and difficulties obtaining finance.
Government figures indicate that the scheme could attract as much as £2 billion in private investment.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the government needed to remove barriers that restrict investment and prevent new employment opportunities.
He said local leaders required additional support so they could direct growth within their communities.
According to Reynolds, the programme could begin progress at up to ten of the UK’s most significant potential sites.
The government anticipates that this approach could secure billions in investment, support tens of thousands of high-quality jobs over the coming years and distribute economic growth throughout the country.
The government confirmed that it was working with local partners on the Burgess Hill project as part of the wider scheme.
The site’s inclusion in the renewed growth agreement was intended to strengthen coordination between the two councils and support the delivery of the technology park.
Interest in the fund remains open until January 19 next year, allowing further applications from organisations seeking support for stalled commercial developments.