Theatre to be knocked down for £5m cultural venue

A theatre is set to be knocked down as part of a multimillion-pound scheme after a developer was picked for the project.

Mid Sussex District Council will now put £1.5m towards the cost of a £4.9m cultural venue proposed for part of the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath, West Sussex.

The rest of the site will include 39 homes, 45 parking spaces, and a green link between Perrymount Road and Clair Park.

Changes for the former civic hall and theatre have been on the cards since 2007 when the Haywards Heath Masterplan said it was "reaching the end of its economic life". It was shut in 2020.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, at a meeting on Monday council leader Robert Eggleston said: "The need for the £1.5m provision is reflective of market conditions."

He said he was "comforted" that it would help to unlock a redevelopment with a gross value added of £23m and "effectively completes the masterplan for this area of Haywards Heath".

"The structure also leaves the council with the freehold ownership of the cultural facility and an ongoing rental income stream," he added.

The developer's name is expected to be released in the next few weeks.

If planning permission is granted, the site will include a 133-seat main theatre complete with cinema screen and stage.

There will be three smaller auditoriums, a community and event space, a green room, a café and restaurant.

The scheme is expected to generate more than £1.1m, creating 19 construction jobs, nine apprenticeships, 20 work placements and see 200 trees planted.

Under the proposals, the council will remain owners of the venue, which would be run by Digital Picture House.

A planning application is expected to be submitted by summer 2027.

If approved, demolition will start in early 2028, with development starting in spring. Work should be finished by autumn 2029.

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