Decision due on Burgess Hill major regeneration scheme

All the way back in 2016, NewRiver was granted planning permission for a £65million project to bring a ten-screen Cineworld, Travelodge, new retailers restaurant, homes and leisure provisions.

The Martlets Hall has already closed, while the town’s library has been relocated.

But the company came back with another application to make significant amendments to the scheme in response to changes in the retail sector.

It is due to be discussed by Mid Sussex District Council’s district planning committee on Thursday September 3.

Permission is sought for the redevelopment of the Marlets Shopping Centre to provide extra retail floorspace, a cinema, bowling alley, gym, hotel, 172 flats and office space along with reconfiguration of the public car park and public realm improvements.

Officers are recommending approval.

One of the main concerns from the 30 objectors who sent letters in to the council was the issue of parking, with others raising the height of the proposed 11-storey block of flats as well as need for more public transport and infrastructure in Burgess Hill.

Burgess Hill Town Council raised similar points in its representation.

The proposed development will result in the loss of the existing Martlets multi-storey car park, as well as the small private car park to the rear of Martlets Hall and spaces within the both the Church Road and Civic Way service yards.

An extension to the an extension to the existing surface level Waitrose/Market Place car park would provide an extra 167 spaces, while 75 spaces would be available for residents of the 172 flats at basement/lower level accessed off Civic Way via the Church Walk service yard.

No affordable housing is proposed with all the flats being open market units. To support its case the developer has submitted a full viability assessment.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.