Nineteen flats and shop to replace ‘poor and old-fashioned’ Haywards Heath building

The application, from Frontier Estates, asked permission to knock down and replace a vacant three-storey building on the corner of The Broadway and Church Road.

It was given the nod during a meeting of Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee on Thursday (January 21).

Because of the difference in levels along the two roads, the red/brown brick building will be four storeys high on Church Road and five storeys high on The Broadway.

The council received few comments about the plans, although Haywards Heath Town Council was happy with the potential improvements they would bring.

Michael Pulfer (Con, Haywards Heath – Franklands) agreed and said: “Even when it was the business centre, it was a very poor and old-fashioned building so this is a very welcome development.”

The only concerns raised were about the lack of parking – there will only be three spaces – and the lack of affordable housing included.

Frontier Estates submitted an appraisal to the council saying that, if affordable housing had to be included, the development would not be financially viable.

The council had those figures double-checked by an independent firm of valuers, who agreed – though a clause was added to the S106 legal agreement between the developer and the council that, if the site makes more money than expected, Frontier Estates will have to make a financial contribution.

The application was approved unanimously.