Approved regeneration scheme can give Burgess Hill ‘renewed hope for future’

At a meeting today (September 3), members of the planning committee voted unanimously to approve the redevelopment of the Marlets Shopping Centre to include 172 flats, a ten-screen cinema, bowling alley, gym and hotel.

Committee chairman Robert Salisbury described the 11-storey block included in the plans as ‘a stunning piece of architecture’, adding: “I think Burgess Hill is getting a very good development here.”

It was a view shared by Robert Eggleston (Lib Dem, Burgess Hill – Meeds) who said the development would ‘undoubtedly assist and lift the town’s economy’.

He added: “The benefits for Burgess Hill are abundantly clear. It provides a comprehensive scheme to revitalise the town centre socially, economically and visually.”

The redevelopment of the site has been dragging on since 2016 when applicant NewRiver Retail Ltd was originally given permission for a £65m project.

This latest application included a number of significant changes – and not everyone was happy with what was being offered.

The council received 30 letters raising concerns about: the height of the flats and their impact on nearby St John’s Church – a Grade II* listed building; the amount of residential parking included – 75 spaces; the size of the cinema; the lack of public transport; whether or not a hotel was actually needed; and the ongoing congestion problems at the nearby McDonald’s roundabout.

Mr Eggleston had a clear message for NewRiver, calling on the firm to ‘actually deliver the scheme this time and to a reasonable timetable’.

He added: “If this happens, Burgess Hill can look forward to the future with renewed hope.”

Some questions were asked about the general car parking included with the scheme.

The town centre will lose the existing Martlets multi-storey car park, as well as the small private car park to the rear of Martlets Hall as well as spaces within Church Road and Civic Way service yards.

But it will see the Waitrose/Market Place car park extended to take an extra 167 spaces – and members were told there were some 1,100 spaces throughout the town centre.

Another concern was the fact the scheme includes no affordable housing and no contributions towards infrastructure, as this would make the whole thing financially unviable.

The committee was told that a S106 planning agreement would be drawn up to allow the viability issue to be reviewed some time during the development.

Anne Eves (Green, Burgess Hill – Leylands) was not allowed to take part in the discussion or the vote as she was judged to be predetermined – in other words, she had already made up her mind before the meeting.

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