Haywards Heath Football Club gets approval for new artificial grass pitch and spectator stand
Haywards Heath Football Club has been granted planning permission to replace its pitch with third generational artificial grass.
The club, at Hanbury Park Stadium in Allen Road, had applied to Mid Sussex District Council in late 2024 with a proposal to replace the existing grass football pitch with a new 3G pitch.
The latest design and access statement, which the council received in August 2025, said the plan is also for a new stand to the north east elevation of the pitch. The plans for this stand show two sections with seats and one section for standing spectators.
People can view the documents at pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-applications using reference DM/24/2754.
The application received dozens of letters of support from residents.
One said: “I believe that the proposal will provide a much needed sports facility that will benefit both the town and the football club.”
Another said: “This is a unique opportunity for the club to provide all weather playing surfaces, that will be accessible to the teams of all age groups and abilities. Also it will be available for use by clubs and youth groups from the wider community.”
One Haywards Heath resident called the plan ‘an excellent project deserving our full support to the benefit of all the keen soccer youngsters in the area’.
The council’s decision notice on December 18, 2025, said the development needs to be carried out in accordance with the submitted application and plans. It added that it is ‘subject to compliance’ with several conditions. These include no construction works, deliveries or collections taking place at the site on Sundays, Bank or public holidays, or any time outside the hours of 8am to 6pm on Mondays to Fridays and between 9am and 1pm on Saturdays.
The decision notice said: “Measures shall be implemented to prevent dust generated on site from crossing the site boundary during the demolition/construction phase of the development. No burning of materials shall take place on site at any time.”
It said: “No development shall take place, including any works of demolition, until a Construction Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.” It added: “This permission is considered to be one which will require the approval of a biodiversity gain plan before development is begun.”
Haywards Heath Football Club had submitted its application via Surfacing Standards Limited (SSL).
SSL’s design and access statement said: “The provision of the new external 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) will provide increased usage in comparison to the existing grassed area for the benefit of Haywards Heath Town FC and community groups during the daytime and evenings. This extended use is possible because the proposed 3G Artificial Grass Pitch (AGP) is more resilient during winter weather conditions.”
The statement said the surface of the AGP will be permeable with an underlying stone sub-base, which acts as an attenuation and storage area for surface water. It said the surface water enters a perforated drainage system underneath the pitch base that connects into the existing surface water drainage system.
The statement continued: “The proposal is beneficial to the advancement of sports activity and development. The proposed development will provide a clean, safe, and attractive facility to inspire sporting participation and will enhance the existing sport and recreation provision at Haywards Heath Town FC and will provide a genuine asset for the club, community groups, and clubs, and will encourage and inspire more people of all ages to participate in sport.”
The new spectator stand should increase spectator capacity from roughly 1,300 to 1,950. The previous application sought to remove and replace an existing Artificial Grass Pitch with two padel courts but this proposal was removed from the application.