£23m revival of Clair Hall site moves forward as final partner is named
A new cultural venue for cinema, live performance and community activities is at the heart of a £23 million vision to bring the Clair Hall site back into use. The wider redevelopment would create homes, jobs and skills opportunities, support local businesses and improve links to Clair Park.
Wates Residential Development Ltd (Wates Residential) has now been confirmed as the final partner and will work with Mid Sussex District Council and Digital Picture House to deliver the scheme. Selected as the development partner through a competitive process, Wates’ appointment was agreed by Cabinet earlier this month.
Part of the family-owned Wates Group, Wates Residential has an established base in the South East and works with councils and housing associations to deliver homes and regenerate communities. Its experience includes mixed-use schemes with community, cultural and leisure facilities, including a new Community Hub in East Brighton, Erith Park, and wider Wates Group developments featuring cinemas at Borough Yards and King’s Road in London.
At the heart of the proposed scheme will be a Council-owned venue operated by The Digital Picture House, the family business behind The Picture House Cinema & Restaurant, Uckfield and The Atrium Cinema & Bar, East Grinstead. It will feature four auditoriums with state of the art cinema capability, an integrated stage for live performance, a flexible community studio, and an all-day café and restaurant. The auditoriums and community spaces will accommodate up to 330 people for films, shows, talks, meetings, classes, and activities at any one time.
Under the proposals, Wates Residential would contribute £3.4 million towards building the cultural venue. The Council has made a provision for up to £1.5 million from reserves to unlock the scheme and will retain the venue’s freehold, with commercial rent helping to offset any contribution that may be required. As plans develop, the Council will seek to minimise public funding. Any public funding would be released only once the Development Agreement’s conditions are met, including satisfactory planning permission and completion by an agreed target date.
The plans also include a landscaped route to Clair Park with improved surfacing, lighting and native planting, creating a safer, greener and more welcoming pedestrian connection between Perrymount Road and Clair Park.
The investment is also expected to create apprenticeships and work placements during construction and jobs after opening, while turning a long-closed brownfield site into a welcoming community destination.
The plans are at an early stage and may change, with community engagement central to their development. In the first half of 2027, Wates Residential will give residents, community groups, existing users and local organisations opportunities to view, discuss and help shape the proposals before submitting a planning application.
Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, Councillor Robert Eggleston, said: “This is an opportunity to build on Clair Hall’s legacy as a place that brings people together, creating a new entertainment and cultural venue for Haywards Heath and the wider district alongside homes and employment opportunities. It will attract visitors, support the local economy, and give the whole community a place to enjoy.
“We know people will have different views, and we want local voices to help shape what comes next through community engagement and the planning process. We have heard how much people value having a cultural venue here, and we want to secure a welcoming, sustainable future that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Lee Bushell, Regional Managing Director for Wates Residential South, said: “Clair Hall is an exciting opportunity to bring an important part of Haywards Heath back into full use, building on its history of bringing people together. The mix of homes, culture, community facilities and public space will create a lively, welcoming place throughout the day and evening.
“We are proud to work with Mid Sussex District Council and The Digital Picture House. As long-standing family businesses, Wates Residential and The Digital Picture House understand the importance of thinking for the long term and creating places that matter to their communities.”
Kevin Markwick from The Digital Picture House said: “We want to offer the community a fantastic experience, including a four-screen cinema showing the latest releases, a programme of live music, comedy, theatre and other special events, an all-day café and restaurant, and entertainment throughout the day and evening. We want to create a destination that attracts people of all ages and interests, is welcoming and inclusive, and becomes a vibrant part of life in the town. The flexible community space will also accommodate talks, meetings, classes, and local groups, making the venue a hub for people to come together.”
The scheme requires planning permission. Subject to approval and the necessary agreements, construction could begin in 2028 and finish by autumn 2029. Updates and engagement opportunities will be published on the Council’s website and Engagement Hub.
