Wates Residential has been appointed as development partner to work with Mid Sussex District Council and The Digital Picture House to develop proposals for the £23m revival of the Clair Hall site in Haywards Heath.
The appointment follows a competitive process and will see Wates Residential work with the Council and The Digital Picture House to shape plans for the site ahead of a planning application expected in mid-2027.
The emerging proposals would bring the long-closed site back into use, with a new Council-owned cultural venue for cinema, live performance and community activities at its heart, alongside new homes, public space and improved connections to Clair Park. The plans are at an early stage and will be shaped through community engagement and the planning process.
At the heart of the scheme will be a Council-owned venue operated by The Digital Picture House, the family business behind The Picture House Cinema & Restaurant, Uckfield and The Atrium Cinema & Bar, East Grinstead. It will feature four auditoriums with state of the art cinema capability, an integrated stage for live performance, a flexible community studio, and an all-day café and restaurant. The auditoriums and community spaces will accommodate up to 330 people for films, shows, talks, meetings, classes, and activities.
Under the current proposals, Wates Residential would contribute £3.4 million towards the scheme, while the Council has made provision for up to £1.5 million from reserves to support the cultural venue.
The wider plans also include a landscaped route between Perrymount Road and Clair Park, with improved surfacing, lighting and native planting.
The scheme will create apprenticeships and work placements during construction, alongside new jobs once the venue opens.
Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, Councillor Robert Eggleston, said:
“This is an opportunity to build on Clair Hall’s legacy as a place that brings people together, creating a new entertainment and cultural venue for Haywards Heath and the wider district alongside homes and employment opportunities. It will attract visitors, support the local economy, and give the whole community a place to enjoy.
“We know people will have different views, and we want local voices to help shape what comes next through community engagement and the planning process. We have heard how much people value having a cultural venue here, and we want to secure a welcoming, sustainable future that can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Lee Bushell, Regional Managing Director for Wates Residential South, said:
“Clair Hall is an exciting opportunity to bring an important part of Haywards Heath back into full use, building on its history of bringing people together. The mix of homes, culture, community facilities and public space will create a lively, welcoming place throughout the day and evening.
“We are proud to work with Mid Sussex District Council and The Digital Picture House. As long-standing family businesses, Wates Residential and Digital Picture House understand the importance of thinking for the long term and creating places that matter to their communities.”
Kevin Markwick from The Digital Picture House said:
“We want to offer the community a fantastic experience, including a four-screen cinema showing the latest releases, a programme of live music, comedy, theatre and other special events, an all-day café and restaurant, and entertainment throughout the day and evening.
“We want to create a destination that attracts people of all ages and interests, is welcoming and inclusive, and becomes a vibrant part of life in the town. The flexible community space will also accommodate talks, meetings, classes, and local groups, making the venue a hub for people to come together.”
In the first half of 2027, Wates Residential will engage with residents, community groups, existing users and local organisations to help shape the plans ahead of a planning application, which is expected to be submitted in mid-2027.
Subject to planning permission and the necessary agreements, construction could begin in 2028, with completion targeted for autumn 2029.