Former Burgess Hill library to be demolished

PR2281/PS/MF - 07/07/2020

A redundant former library building in Burgess Hill is set to be demolished in late summer and early autumn 2020.

Mid Sussex District Council’s Cabinet agreed on Monday 6 July to appoint a specialist contractor to carry out the demolition work.

The former library was occupied and in continuous use when the attached Martlets Hall building was demolished in 2019. Now the library has moved to a new permanent location, it’s possible to demolish the vacant building, clear the site and make the whole area safe.

The site on which the former library sits is due to be redeveloped as part of NewRiver REIT’s proposed town centre revitalisation but, as the landowner, the responsibility for demolition rests with Mid Sussex District Council.

Due to the age of the building, and the asbestos that was found hidden deep within the structure of the adjacent Martlets Hall building, an extensive intrusive asbestos survey will be undertaken before engaging with potential contractors.

Councillor Judy Llewellyn-Burke, Deputy Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“Our plans to demolish the former library have been in place since 2018 but unfortunately the library was still occupied when the Martlets Hall was demolished and wasn’t ready to move to its new home until December 2019.

“Burgess Hill now has a wonderful new glass fronted library with flexible shelving, a modernised public computer area and a Changing Places toilet that ensures the library is accessible for everyone. It’s a fantastic new facility for the local community and library’s relocation means we can now push on with our plans for the old site.

“The former library building is redundant and is just taking up space in an important part of Burgess Hill Town centre. By demolishing the old building we will be able to tidy up the whole area, clearing rubble from the site and levelling the ground so that it’s safe for pedestrian access and ready to be used once more.”

ENDS