£23 million Clair Hall regeneration set to bring new cultural venue, jobs and investment to Haywards Heath

A new cinema-led cultural venue, year-round entertainment and 39 homes are among plans for a £23 million investment in Haywards Heath, alongside new jobs, skills opportunities and improved links to Clair Park. 

Mid Sussex District Council’s Cabinet has agreed to appoint a preferred developer for the Clair Hall site, moving forward plans to bring this important town-centre site back into full use. The preferred developer and emerging plans will be announced shortly. 

The proposals would complete the final major development site in the Station Quarter, building on investment in the railway station, Waitrose, new homes, the hotel, and Aldi. Together, these improvements would strengthen this key gateway to Haywards Heath and create a more welcoming, lively, and connected destination for residents, businesses and visitors. 

At its heart would be a new Council-owned cultural venue operated by the Digital Picture House, a family-owned business with a strong community focus and successful venues in Uckfield and East Grinstead. The four-screen venue would include a 133-seat auditorium with an integrated stage, three smaller screens, a green room, and an all-day café and restaurant with outdoor seating. A flexible community studio would provide a welcoming space for talks, birthday parties, yoga classes, and other local activities. 

For local people, that would mean more choice close to home: film, theatre, live performance, events, community classes. Digital Picture House has committed to more than 150 hours of live, in-person cultural activity each year, helping to make culture more accessible to people of all ages. 

The wider scheme would create a landscape-led link between Perrymount Road and Clair Park, with improved surfacing, lighting and pedestrian access from the station. New planting, and public spaces would help create a greener and more inviting route through the site, while the new cultural venue would bring activity to Perrymount Road throughout the day and evening. 

The investment is also expected to provide a significant boost to the local economy. Around 115,000 cinema admissions are forecast in the first year, rising to 139,000 by year three, bringing more people into the town centre and supporting nearby shops, cafés, restaurants and other businesses. The cultural venue could create up to 60 jobs, including five full-time posts, alongside the equivalent of 19 full-time equivalent construction jobs, nine apprenticeships and 20 work placements during development. 

The developer has proposed more than £1.1 million of social value for the community, including employment and skills support, careers activity, local supply-chain opportunities, wellbeing programmes and the planting of 200 native trees. The scheme is also proposed to  deliver 39 low-rise, centrally located homes and high-quality public spaces designed to complement Clair Park, improve access and open up stronger connections between the park, station and wider town centre. 

Leader of the Council Robert Eggleston said: “This is about creating a place where existing and future generations can watch a film, celebrate a birthday, see a show, or simply meet friends. We want it to become part of people’s everyday lives and special occasions - a welcoming destination with something for all ages throughout the day and into the evening.

“Clair Hall has played an important part in local life for many years. This proposal can build on that legacy, bringing together film, live performance, food and community activity in one place while unlocking more than £23 million of investment in the wider site. 
 
“That investment would bring this important site back into full use, secure a viable and sustainable future for Clair Hall and improve its integration with Clair Park, creating stronger connections between the park, station and amenities along Perrymount Road. Coupled with Digital Picture House’s experience and community focus, this is an exciting opportunity for Haywards Heath. 
 
“There is still more work to do, and the community will have opportunities to help shape the detail as the plans develop.” 

Conservative Councillor Rod Clarke said: “We have always been determined to deliver an outstanding entertainment venue for Haywards Heath that is fit for the future. We recognise that the journey has taken time and caused frustration for some current and former users, but the focus has remained on securing the right long-term outcome for the town. 

“We have always believed that the right building would help secure an excellent operator, high-quality performers and a varied programme of events. This new cultural venue will create jobs, skills and opportunities, while providing activities that appeal to people of all ages and interests across the community. 

“Alongside the Digital Picture House, the wider regeneration will bring more visitors into Haywards Heath and support a lively, renewed area close to the railway station. We are ambitious for this important part of the town and want residents to have a strong choice of entertainment, arts and culture on their doorstep. This is an exciting opportunity to give Clair Hall a viable, sustainable future.” 

Cabinet has also approved provision for a Council contribution of up to £1.5 million from reserves towards the proposed £4.9 million new cultural facility. This provision unlocks the £23 million redevelopment of the final major development site in the Station Quarter and is required because development costs have risen, in line with trends seen nationally. Any Council funding will be released only when key conditions in the proposed Development Agreement are met, including satisfactory planning permission being granted and the cultural facility being built by a target date. The Council will retain freehold ownership of the completed cultural venue, which will be operated by Digital Picture House under a commercial lease, with the rent helping to offset any contribution made from reserves. The Council will continue to work with the developer to reduce the contribution where possible. 

The proposals are still at an early stage and will require planning permission before they can go ahead. As part of any future planning application, the local community will have the opportunity to view and comment on the detailed plans, and those comments will be considered through the planning process.  

Subject to planning permission and completion of the necessary agreements, work could start in 2028 and be completed by autumn 2029, with residents and existing users kept informed as the plans develop. 

Further information, together with opportunities for the community to get involved, will be published on the Council’s Engagement Hub as this work progresses.

ENDS