Developing a new cultural centre at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath

Augarde & Partners previously worked with Montagu Evans to undertake a detailed analysis of the case for a self-sustaining cultural and community space at the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath.

The team conducted a soft-market test with different cultural and creative organisations to understand the appetite to refurbish or develop a new purpose-built building. Using the insight from potential operators, we reviewed the options for refurbishment alongside architects Jan Kattein.

Our assessment of the insight and review of the options enabled us to evidence a preferred route for Mid Sussex Council to take with regards to repurposing the site for cultural, creative and community use and for that to be sustainable. 

Augarde & Partners has now been commissioned by Mid-Sussex District Council to progress the development of a sustainable new cultural centre towards completion.

The project is in two main phases:

• Reviewing the council’s preferred scheme, agreeing cultural outcomes, identifying risks, developing an outline procurement and property strategy

• Developing an operator specification for the redeveloped Clair Hall, and taking the opportunity to the market.