1 Overview
The Mid Sussex Growth Deal is a partnership between Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council. Together, they want to make Mid Sussex a better place to live, work and visit.
The Deal helps both councils make the most of their funding, land and other resources. This supports new homes, businesses and local services. It also helps strengthen the local economy.
In 2018, the councils agreed the first Mid Sussex Growth Deal, which ran until 2023. It set out 7 shared priorities focused on new homes and jobs, improving sustainable transport and helping to regenerate Burgess Hill town centre.
The Growth Deal helped secure more than £35 million in funding and grants. This public investment encouraged businesses and developers to invest more money in the area.
The councils used the funding to improve transport, public spaces and digital services through the Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme. This included:
- improvements for walking and cycling
- upgrades to Burgess Hill and Wivelsfield railway stations
- improvements to the Western Gateway and Green Circle
- widening the A2300
- better bus stops and real-time passenger information
These projects made it easier for people to travel around the area and supported new housing and business developments.
The programme also supported major town centre redevelopment projects and helped deliver new homes and business developments.
The first Growth Deal has ended. The councils have agreed a new 5-year Deal that sets out shared priorities for investment and regeneration. The new Deal will support new homes, infrastructure and jobs across Mid Sussex.
2 Partners
West Sussex County Council and Mid Sussex District Council are working together to deliver the priorities in the Mid Sussex Growth Deal.
They are working with Burgess Hill Town Council, Coast to Capital Local Economic Partnership and Homes England to support investment and economic growth in the Burgess Hill area.
3 Our priorities
West Sussex County Council and Mid Sussex District Council are working together on the Mid Sussex Growth Deal. They are working towards shared goals that will benefit local communities and businesses.
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill is one of the fastest-growing towns in West Sussex. The Burgess Hill Strategic Growth Programme is attracting investment from public organisations and private businesses. The programme is an important part of the Mid Sussex Growth Deal.
The programme will help Burgess Hill grow by providing:
- 5,000 new homes
- 200,000 square metres of modern business space
- up to 5,000 new jobs
- improvements to the town centre
The programme will also provide:
- 2 new primary schools
- 1 new secondary school
- 3 local centres with shops and workspaces
- a new community sports centre
Transport improvements include:
- making the A2300 safer and wider
- building the Northern Arc road
- improving journey times and road capacity
The programme will also:
- improve walking, cycling and public transport links
- protect existing jobs and create new ones
- support environmentally friendly travel
- make it easier to reach the town centre and transport hubs
- improve public spaces across the town
You can find full details about the programme, partnerships and projects on the Burgess Hill Strategic Growth Programme website.
Martlets redevelopment scheme
Mid Sussex District Council and New River Retail jointly own the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill. They have formed a joint venture to deliver the approved redevelopment plans.
The scheme will provide:
- 172 new homes
- a 102-room hotel
- 5,818 square metres of new shops, leisure facilities and places to eat and drink
- up to 167 parking spaces
The redevelopment scheme will help meet the needs of current and future residents. It will attract investment, improve public transport and create better public spaces.
Brookleigh
Work is continuing to deliver the approved Brookleigh development and the infrastructure needed to support it from 2025 to 2030.
Brookleigh will provide:
- new homes, including affordable homes
- health facilities
- employment space
- education facilities
- community services
- road improvements
- better walking, cycling and other sustainable transport links
Construction of the Northern Arc development and supporting infrastructure started in 2020. More information is available on the Northern Arc pages of the Mid Sussex Growth Programme website.
Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Phase 2
Phase 1 of the Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme has already delivered more than 14 kilometres of new and improved walking and cycling routes. It has also improved more than 30 bus stops.
Phase 2 will build on this work. It will create more walking and cycling routes that connect key locations in Burgess Hill and nearby areas.
The main focus will be Victoria Business Park. The improvements will:
- make it safer and easier to walk and cycle
- improve access around the business park
- connect people to the town centre, railway station and employment areas
- link to existing walking and cycling routes
This programme helps support Burgess Hill's planned growth by investing in sustainable transport and public spaces.
Burgess Hill Science and Technology Park
The Mid Sussex Growth Deal supports plans for more than 90,000 square metres of employment space at the Science and Technology Park north of the A2300 in Burgess Hill.
The park will:
- support technology and innovation businesses
- help attract high-skilled companies
- create around 4,000 new jobs for local people
- provide research and technology facilities
The site will also include:
- meeting and conference facilities
- restaurants and cafés
- childcare facilities
- leisure facilities
- links to walking, cycling and public transport routes
Along with The Hub business park and employment space at Brookleigh, the Science and Technology Park will help create more local jobs. This will reduce the need for people to travel long distances for work.
The Brow
The Brow is a site west of Burgess Hill town centre, about 700 metres from Burgess Hill railway station. It contains emergency service buildings, healthcare facilities and supported living accommodation.
West Sussex County Council has worked with partners through the One Public Estate programme to explore redevelopment options. The aim is to provide new homes near the town centre while keeping public services on site.
The county council and district council will continue working with partners to create a masterplan for The Brow. This plan will guide the regeneration of the site.
Burgess Hill railway station redevelopment
Mid Sussex District Council and its partners, including West Sussex County Council, have developed early plans to redevelop Burgess Hill railway station and nearby land.
The site could provide:
- up to 300 new homes
- commercial space
- a redeveloped railway station
- a mobility hub in the town centre
- more allotments for local residents
The councils will continue working with partners to develop the project and prepare an outline planning application.
East Grinstead town centre improvements
Mid Sussex District Council is working with East Grinstead Town Council, the East Grinstead Business Association and other partners on a Town Centre Improvement Plan.
The plan aims to keep the town centre attractive for businesses, residents and visitors.
Possible projects include:
- better walking and cycling routes
- improvements to public spaces
- changes to roads and transport infrastructure
West Sussex County Council will work with partners to explore options and develop plans for these projects.
Zero-emission bus infrastructure
The project will work with local bus operators and other partners to identify what infrastructure is needed to expand zero-emission bus services across Mid Sussex.
The work will include:
- reviewing infrastructure requirements
- identifying possible depot locations
- planning facilities needed to support zero-emission buses
These improvements will help support cleaner and more sustainable public transport in the future.