Following a competitive tendering process Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) has appointed world renowned BOP Consulting to explore options to provide financially viable modern community facilities at the Clair Hall site.

Having recently worked with a hugely impressive list of clients including local government authorities, the Arts Council of England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and UNESCO all within the creative industries sector, BOP Consulting are well placed to review current market conditions and provide evidence-based advice to help identify opportunities for the future of the Clair Hall site.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“We are delighted that an organisation with such an impressive reputation in the creative industries sector has agreed to work with us as we look to identify proposals for the future of the Clair Hall site.”

Paul Owens Director of BOP Consulting commented:

“With a 25-year track record of working globally and across numerous sectors we feel that our rigorous and effective research expertise can help provide evidence-based recommendations for the financially viable future of the Clair Hall site.”

BOP Consulting were appointed following a competitive tender process. The invitation to tender document they submitted their bid against is available for all to review on the Clair Hall Engagement hub site, which can be accessed at https://engage.midsussex.gov.uk/clair-hall, with people asked to hit the subscribe button on this page to be kept informed of the latest news on the future of Clair Hall.

Councillor Ash-Edwards summarised by adding:

“The public consultation last autumn showed an overwhelming desire amongst residents to modernise the Clair Hall site, so it is fit for the future, and the appointment of BOP Consulting is an important step in our work. The Council will transparently publish updates through the process, and I would encourage people interested in the future of the Clair Hall site to register on the Engagement Hub”.

ENDS

Mid Sussex District Council has extended a licence for the NHS to use the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath as a Covid-19 vaccination centre.

The NHS has been vaccinating local residents against Covid-19 at the Clair Hall site since December 2020 and has delivered an incredible 194,000 jabs so far. The licence extension will enable the NHS to continue delivering this and other important health services on site. The new licence will run until February 2024.

GP Federation, Alliance for Better Care, has been running the vaccination programme at Clair Hall on behalf of local GP practices. The team aims to make full use of the space available and is now working with practices to provide extended primary care services from the site, alongside its ongoing vaccination provision.

“As the largest of our vaccination sites, Clair Hall has played an integral part in our programme,” said Katherine Saunders, CEO, Alliance for Better Care.

“We are grateful for all the support we have received from the Mid Sussex District Council, the volunteers and the local residents, and we’re delighted to build on these relationships going forward. We are pleased to now explore broadening the primary care services we will offer at the venue,”

The use of Clair Hall as a vaccination centre is a temporary measure and Mid Sussex District Council is continuing to explore all the options for providing new sustainable community facilities on the site for the benefit of local residents. The Council has agreed an evidence-based approach to look at how modern, multifunctional community facilities could be delivered on the Clair Hall site and this work is unaffected by the extension of the licence.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“The NHS will have the use of Clair Hall for as long as they need, so they can continue their excellent work of protecting our community against Covid-19. They are doing a tremendous job of keeping us all safe and this licence extension will enable them to carry on with that work. I’m also really pleased to see the NHS looking at how they can provide additional primary care services alongside vaccinations to support the community’s health needs.

“Improvement of community facilities at Clair Hall is a key priority for the Council and our work on this project will continue while the NHS uses the hall.

“The vast majority of residents want to see modern, fit for purpose community facilities delivered on site and that’s something we’re keen to deliver. Work to consider all the potential options can take place alongside the valuable work of the NHS and we aim to have some exciting proposals for consideration later this year.”

Mid Sussex District Council looks to set-up a steering group on Clair Hall site plans

Mid Sussex District Council is proposing to create a Member Steering Group to oversee the delivery of new community facilities on the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath.

As part of a public engagement exercise last year, the majority of residents expressed support for modernisation of the community facilities on the Clair Hall site. The Council then agreed to commission detailed, evidence-led work to examine all the options, in order to deliver modern, future proof community facilities on the site.

Cabinet will meet on 14 February to discuss the creation of a new Member Steering Group. The aim of the Clair Hall steering group will be to provide oversight and guidance as detailed options are investigated further. The group will also provide the opportunity for Cllr Mike Pulfer, Leader of Haywards Heath Town Council to be involved in supporting and influencing the work.

Mid Sussex District Council has significant experience in managing complex projects and attracting investment, both public and private, to support the development of the district. The group, which is expected to start work in March, will draw on this experience as it works alongside a specialist advisor.

The development of options will be led by an external specialist advisor with experience in the arts, culture and leisure sector. Using their expertise, they will co-ordinate market research, engagement and analysis to develop proposals for review by the Member Steering Group.

Key stages of the work are outlined in the Cabinet report show an Interim Report going to Cabinet around the summer, with a Final Report following once further work, including stakeholder engagement has taken place.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council said:

“Our recent public engagement showed that the vast majority of people in Haywards Heath would like to see improvements made to the community facilities on offer at the Clair Hall site. Opinions on what form those improvements should take varied widely, so we must consider all the available options in order to develop a proposal that meets the needs of the whole community.

“With a complex economic environment following the pandemic, the creation of a Member Steering Group will enable us to take a considered approach that ensures our decisions will stand the test of time and be of benefit to the community long into the future.

“The improvement of community facilities at the Clair Hall site is a key priority for the Council. However, public health remains the priority. Clair Hall is currently being used as a vaccination centre and we will continue to make the venue available for NHS use for as long as they need it”.

We are pleased to announce that the Future of Clair Hall Site consultation report has been published. The report presents the findings of the 12-week engagement process undertaken to gather ideas and perspectives from the community on the future of the Clair Hall site (including the Redwood Centre and car park).

The full consultation report is publicly available to view on the reports section of this website and will be considered by a full Cabinet meeting of Mid Sussex District Council in December 2021.

The team at ECF would like to thank all those that participated throughout the consultation process, particularly those that represented an organisation on the Community Engagement Group (CEG) that was formed.