Developing community facility options for the Clair Hall site

Following the decision made at Cabinet on 29 July, we are eager to move forward with developing a cultural facility. To achieve this, we plan to go to the market and offer the land as a key component of the project. We are inviting proposals from developers and potential operators, asking what additional features—such as residential units, retail spaces or other innovative ideas—could be included to make the overall development viable and sustainable.

We understand that the community has diverse needs and that it may be challenging to meet all of them. Therefore, we aim to find a modern, flexible solution that balances these needs and gives us the best chance of success. We are committed to making our decisions transparently and publicly, ensuring that the process is open and inclusive.

We are now keen to engage in discussions with potential operators to explore how we can best develop the Clair Hall site. While we may not be able to satisfy every individual requirement, our goal is to create a vibrant, multifaceted development that benefits the community as a whole. Crucially we have committed that any redevelopment of the site must begin with a cultural facility.

We would like to thank everyone for their interest and for contributing ideas to enhance Clair Hall.

As we progress into the next phase, we're pleased to share that we are currently in the process of confirming the schedule for the upcoming technical panel which will be taking place either the week commencing January 29th or February 5^th, 2024. As we eagerly anticipate this, we'll be dedicating time to thoroughly review all the submissions we've received and are committed to ensuring a comprehensive and fair evaluation of each proposal. As a reminder our technical panel is an independent group of specialists who will be considering the proposals submitted – you can find out more about them here.

We have received a request from an individual for their proposal to remain confidential. In accordance with this request, we are ensuring that all proposals are treated with confidentiality. However, any group that wishes to share their proposal publicly is welcome to do so. It's important to note that if a proposal is shared in a manner different from its original submission, the Council reserves the right to publicly highlight any discrepancies.

Once we have confirmed the date for the technical panel, we will share a comprehensive timeline outlining the next steps. Additionally, we will ensure that the engagement hub remains regularly updated.

Thank you for your patience and we look forward to sharing more updates soon.

We thank all of the community groups that have sent in proposals for Clair Hall. Based on the additional information shared last month, some respondents have sought additional time. Therefore we will not be accepting any new submissions but we will be giving until Monday 11^th December at 5pm (for those who made a submission or expression of interest by the 27^th November) to add additional information.

Whilst there may be the opportunity to add additional information in response to questions through the technical panel process, we are asking that all documentation that forms the material proposal is submitted, so please do share any further information you would like to. Submissions should be to louise.duffield@midsussex.gov.uk

Further to a few questions we have received from our community, please see an update below:

Our approach for community proposals aims to be as enabling and supportive as possible. We wish to hear viable proposals from the community without placing a burden on community groups who may not have the resources to pull together detailed and exhaustive written documentation. Thus we have developed a technical panel who can review and evaluate information through discussion and follow up questions and information.

However, we recognise we have been asked for greater detail and clarity about their approach, and the process and timeline, and as such the documents found under the 'Documents' tab on the right hand side of this page should help provide this. This sets out how we will approach proposals, who forms the technical panel and the broad criteria we will consider proposals against. This includes further interactions between community groups and the technical panel where additional information and clarity are required. This flexibility of engagement means timescales remain indicative.

Whilst financial viability and a robust business case are vital some of the other criteria in should be considered as guiding principals. If any group would like to discuss the broader criteria we are happy to do so.

We recognise that in responding to questions and requests from community groups we have introduced further information and are happy to consider any reasonable additional time any group needs to respond to this.

We would therefore ask that anyone interested in submitting a proposal indicates an intention to do so by midnight on Monday 27th November (the current deadline) and at the same time sets out any additional time they require. This information should be sent to Louise.Duffield@midsussex.gov.uk

Further to the update published on 3 November, we are pleased to inform you that we are extending the deadline for community proposals until 27 November due to expressions of interest and requested extensions.

The future of the Clair Hall site is really important to our community, and there is a potential opportunity to deliver something significant for generations to come. We are therefore committed to taking the time to explore every option carefully, including those from community groups.

If you have any questions, please submit them using the ‘questions’ tab.

Many thanks,

Louise Duffield

Director of Resources and Organisational Development

Mid Sussex District Council

Hello,

Thank you so much for your continued engagement with the plans for the future of the Clair Hall site.

We all know that the current building requires significant investment to provide a fit-for-purpose cultural facility. Our very well attended engagement sessions gave us lots of feedback on the proposals we shared – we will be updating the engagement hub with videos and information from these shortly.

As agreed by the Cabinet we are also committed to considering community approaches. We are therefore asking for groups with proposals to submit them, including all background financial and technical information, by the 13th November 2023.

The future of the Clair Hall site is really important to our community, and there is a potential opportunity to deliver something significant for generations to come. We are therefore committed to taking the time to explore every option carefully, including those from community groups.

We need to ensure any proposal that we progress is financially and legally sound, operationally viable, and delivers against the desired outcomes for the long-term future of the Clair Hall site. However we recognise that a community group may not have the resources and expertise to put together a bid which details all this information. We will therefore be establishing an independent technical panel that will review the proposals and invite community groups to meet with them, for a roundtable discussion, to further explore their proposals.

This discussion between independent experts and community groups will be carried out with the newly formed, politically balanced, Executive Steering Group in attendance. The bids, the outcome of the technical panel, and the recommendations of the Executive Steering Group will then be published openly and presented to the Cabinet.

if you have any questions please do share them through the engagement hub Proposals should be submitted to louise.duffield@midsussex.gov.uk

We will continue to share further updates through the engagement hub as this work progresses.

Thank you for your continued engagement.

Best

Louise

Director of Resources and Organisational Development

Mid Sussex District Council

We were delighted to meet so many people at our drop-in sessions and hear feedback, thoughts and ideas about our vision for Clair Hall.

The information and imagery below sets out what was shared at the sessions. We are committed to sharing our progress transparently with our community so please note that at this stage, this information presents the evidence, our potential ideas, as well as details of a potential timeline.

1. The vision

2. The existing facilities

3. The research: refurbishment

4. The research: a new facility

5. The headlines

6. The approach

7. The approach

8. Timeline for delivery

9.Initial thoughts

10. What the new Clair Hall could look like

We were delighted to see and talk to so many members of the community at our first drop-in sessions at Clair Hall on Thursday (31 August).

The sessions have been organised to share our ambition for the future of the venue, as well as sharing evidence gathered from cultural consultants regarding the financial feasibility of options for the site.

Evidence shows that the 1970’s building has reached the end of its life, but that there is a significant need for a flexible, multi-use space that meets cultural and community needs in Haywards Heath, now and for future generations.

The proposed vision would see a new mixed-use cultural and community venue built on the site with a provision for some residential housing as a way of affording the facility. This won’t be easy to deliver but we are committed to exploring the potential. We know that as we progress the community will be keen to ensure that the scheme has the necessary guarantees and that no work would commence on site until clear deliverable plans for a new building are in place.

We are also committed to exploring the long-term community involvement in running the site by way of establishing a Trust model.

Come along and find out more about these ideas, see the vision in full, share your feedback, and ask questions. The next drop-in sessions that are being held on:

Thursday 7 September

• 2.30pm to 3.30pm
• 4.30pm to 5.30pm
• 6.30pm to 7.30pm

For those unable to attend the sessions we will be sharing full details and imagery over the coming weeks with the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas – watch this space!

We are pleased to announce that we have recently secured the appointment of Montagu Evans, one of the UK’s leading property specialists to lead us through the next phases of our work on the Clair Hall site.

There is no doubt that we are in a challenging financial climate. With current high inflation costs and the volatility of market conditions creating significant risks to investment in cultural facilities the ability of interested parties to secure the necessary funding is severely hampered often making schemes unviable.

However, our goal remains to secure a cultural anchor tenant who can deliver a cultural and leisure offer for the whole of the Mid Sussex Community now and in the future, in a modern fit for purpose venue on the Clair Hall site and we believe that the appointment of Montagu Evans, who have partnered with creative consultant, Augarde Consulting provides us with the best chance of success.

The invitation to tender document used to engage Montagu Evans is now available on the engagement hub site, in the reports section, and we will provide further updates in the new year as work progresses.