A move to Mid Sussex is credited with transforming manufacturing company Adelphi into a global success.

Rachel Birrell-Gray, Marketing Manager of successful Haywards Heath-based Adelphi, told delegates at the recent Real Estate Live conference that the company's move out of London in the 1980s has contributed to their growth from a a simple manufacturer of bottle washing machinery, to a global manufacturer of filling and capping automation solutions for the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and chemical industries.

She encouraged other companies to follow Adelphi's lead and find success in the district, thanks to its great transport links, welcoming cosmopolitan culture and highly skilled supply chain.

"The region has excellent local transport links – we are just 15 mins from Gatwick, less than an hour from London by train and just 10 mins from M23 – so potential business partners know how accessible we are.

"And we have been able to take advantage of the extensive investment in the area, and local redevelopment projects, which have created a wealth of more cosmopolitan facilities, including nice hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and more.

"At Adelphi we often host customers, prospects, agents and potential business partners – both from within the UK and abroad. The quality of hosting is vital for businesses of all sizes, to help you nurture connections and ultimately win business. We find our area a location to be proud of, to ensure our trademark warm welcome and excellent service are matched by the places we choose to host."

Rachel added that Mid Sussex also includes highly skilled local supply chains, providing opportunities for businesses to build trust and rapport with suppliers face-to-face.

"The prime local facilities, housing offer and excellent transport links also mean top class local recruitment potential," said Rachel. "Mid Sussex really appeals to graduates and Generation Z, who often don't want to travel to big cities anymore. The lure of the London lifestyle has been diluted by the cosmopolitan bars and restaurants popping up throughout areas such as Mid Sussex. In fact, many of our own employees at Adelphi actually travel out of London to work in Sussex!"

She said that Adelphi also makes the most of apprenticeship link opportunities with local colleges.

"Whenever an opportunity arises for a new apprentice to join, we have almost instant access to a pool of great talent, from the many high quality education facilities in the Mid Sussex area," she told delegates.

Rachel also promoted Mid Sussex's vibrant business networking opportunities, which helps promote the business, make new connections with buyers and suppliers as well as fill skills gaps.

"The number one thing is you have to be in it to win it. Mid Sussex's community spirit, thriving network and top-quality local talent is attracting more business and partnerships opportunities every day, so I'd just say to businesses – sign up, get here and reach out to connections that could be mutually beneficial." 

Project Newton, Mid Sussex's planned 'next generation' Science and Technology Park passed a new milestone last week in its ambition for the 49-hectare site to provide 100,000m2 of innovation-led employment space, generating 2,500 new jobs. 

Delegates at the Real Estate Live conference were the first to hear that the Park's site allocation on the A23/M23 road corridor had been approved by a government planning inspector, giving the green light to Project Newton.

Suzanne Holloway, Partner, Vail Williams explained that the concept of a Science and Technology Park for Mid Sussex dated back to 2014 when the Local Enterprise Partnership Coast to Capital identified the need and broad location, and since then the Project Newton team had been working with a number of key stakeholders to bring forward the site.

She said the site was now looking to progress with its next steps following the successful allocation, and gave a brief overview of the site concept, which was for the Park to support innovation and knowledge-based industries, adding that the Park was on an agile 10-year plan which would enable it to flex in lines with market demand and scientific changes.

"There is a cluster of opportunities for us to be able to build on the Northern Arc employment designation and the Hub. Other Science Parks areas don't always have residents so close by so this is really helpful for us when we are looking at economic growth." She added that the Project Newton team were already in discussion with many partners including academic institutions in terms of the opportunities the Park could create; working with other partners on policy, regeneration and further opportunities as well as working with existing and new businesses in terms of the opportunities created by the area.

"The Park is in a very fortunate position," Suzanne told delegates. "It has 49 hectares which gives the project a unique critical mass and scale within the region, enabling it to have a high-quality environment, purpose-built facilities and illustrative layouts show the potential for a landscape led development with a 40% green space.

"The scheme sits alongside the existing Bolney Industrial estate and is connected to the Northern Arc to the east.

"The job opportunities are significant with 2500-4500 potential jobs based on the 1.3million sq. ft of commercial floorspace and 80,000 sq. ft of ancillary support and amenity facilities proposed. – there are also 40-50,000 people within cycling distance and 1,500 within walking distance, so connectivity is important, and we are working closely with West Sussex County Council and other local authorities in terms of how the Park will connect with mobility and activity work linked to the existing infrastructure provided by the Growth Programme.

"One of key themes is working with all the local stakeholders and key partners to make sure the Park is a successful part of the whole growth programme."

James Chaffer CEO of UKSPA, the UK's Science Park Association, said he was interested in how Project Newton was rising to the challenge of ensuring it would provide facilities and open spaces which would draw people to a campus in the modern world of hybrid working, creating a healthy way of working.

Nathan Spilsted Regeneration and Economy Programme Manager at Mid Sussex District Council told delegates at the recent Real Estate Live conference that partnership working and buy-in at all levels has been key in delivering one of the one of the most ambitious, complex, and pioneering inward investment projects currently taking place in the UK.

The Burgess Hill Growth programme, which is already well into its delivery phase, will see the town grow from a population of 30,000 to more than 45,000 in a decade, delivering homes, jobs, schools, parks, green space, and technical innovation to build economically successful and sustainable neighbourhoods.

Nathan said that the key to the Growth Programme's success was the local authority's 'open door' policy which encouraged a culture of collaboration.

"We had a clear vision to create a vibrant district that is attractive, resilient and innovative and which balances social well-being, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.

"We are looking to create over 5,000 homes and create 5,000 new jobs in Burgess Hill – that's a growth rate of 3% per annum which is big in anyone's books and can involve up to 20-30 projects being under way at any one time.

"But change on this scale can only be delivered by working in partnership with others. It enabled us to expand what we could influence and achieve, including £60m in grants and funding as well as Home England's commitment to its large-scale investment in Mid Sussex."

He was supported by Graham Hyslop, Projects Director – South, Homes England, who told delegates that he had been impressed by how Mid Sussex's partnership working culture had impacted on the speed of progress, both through weekly meetings and the 'fine grain' of all the work the authority had put into consultation and engaging with all key stakeholders and residents to ensure they were invested in the process.

"Mid Sussex are fantastic partners in terms of planning. It's a really good working relationship that gets things done," he told delegates.

Nathan explained how the authority aimed to be an exemplar council for promoting partnership working, including developers, stakeholders, local residents, volunteers, the public and private sector in the development of its Sustainable Economy Strategy.

"We believed that to achieve sustainable growth we needed the right strategy and a clear roadmap with clear timescales and lines of ownership which would drive sustainable communities and our Sustainable Economy Strategy sits at the heart of that."

"It sets out Mid Sussex's ambition and provides a new focus on sustainability with the aim of driving green growth following the pandemic."

Key objectives including creating a high employment rate, opportunities for skills, encouraging business start-ups, providing business infrastructure, and providing commercial and employment space.

You can find out more about Mid Sussex's Sustainable Economic Strategy here

 A new railway underpass has opened at Hassocks, providing a safer and more accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cllr Ian Weir, Hassocks Parish Council, said: "The whole community will benefit from this amazing new tunnel. It will form a key part of the network of safe off-road routes that the Parish Council is supporting around Hassocks to enable young people to travel independently to school and the village centre and for other residents to have cycling as an option for shorter journeys. Everywhere I hear positive comments about the brilliant job Network Rail have done and the care taken to cause the minimum disruption to local residents during construction." 

 Mid Sussex District Council is creating an Urban Park at the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill.

A temporary Urban Park will brighten up the area and create a space where people can meet and relax. The designs by landscape architects Allen Scott feature improved public spaces, trees, and planting, along with proposed leisure uses, which will provide an attractive and safe space for the community. The aim is to use materials that can be reused and quickly relocated to other sites when the town centre redevelopment is ready to proceed.

In the meantime, we are working with a number of stakeholders and local groups to provide activities in the centre over the summer.

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

"We are all keen for NewRiver REIT to progress with their plans to revitalise Burgess Hill Town Centre. However, the leisure and retail sectors are currently experiencing a very difficult time and there is uncertainty about when a redevelopment could reach viability to proceed. In the meantime, we want to improve the look of the area and make it a more pleasant place to be.

"By creating an Urban Park, we can bring an area that's currently fenced off back into use and make it into a place that people want to use when in town. Improving the attractiveness of the town centre will help support our small local business who continue to trade in the town.

"All of the improvements will be temporary in nature to ensure that area can be cleared as soon as New River REIT is in a position to resume work on their town centre revitalisation project."

 The Mid Sussex Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) has been found 'sound' by a government appointed Planning Inspector.

With its microclimate, chalky soil and sun-soaked slopes, Mid Sussex is a working landscape for winemaking.

Now, wine producers in the district are raising a glass to Sussex wine after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it is to be designated as a UK Geographical Indication.

The recognition means Sussex wine will have Protected Designation of Origin status, the same as products such as Cornish clotted cream and Stilton cheese.

Under the designation, still and sparkling wines can only be called Sussex if they are grown in the region and meet a strict set of conditions.

It will help local producers such as Bolney Wine Estate and Ridgeview Wine to demonstrate the quality of their products and will boost the profile of the district's viticulture sector.

Homes England is seeking a development partner for construction of the first new primary school as part of the 3,500-home Northern Arc scheme.

A procurement contract for the £10million project is due to open for tenders on 6 June – and local companies are being asked to register their interest at https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

The school, which will be known as Burgess Hill School, is one of three schools planned as part of the Northern Arc development, which will help meet demand for school places as well as providing further choice for families living in the local area. It will form part of an 'all through' school for pupils aged 4-16, which will built across two sites in Burgess Hill.

The University of Brighton Academies Trust was formally appointed by the Regional Schools Commissioner to run the proposed new all-through school in February 2022, following a full tender process. The new secondary school would be funded, designed and built by West Sussex County Council with land and a financial contribution from Homes England, who are also delivering and funding the primary element of the school.

A second primary school is planned for a later phase of the development.

Industrial real estate developer Panattoni has acquired a 22-acre site in Burgess Hill. 

The site is already home to DPD and Roche, and Panattoni is looking to speculatively develop the site to create a range of bespoke units to meet the demand for industrial and employment space for small to medium-sized enterprises.

Panattoni expects to start construction in the fourth quarter of this year with the intention of delivering units to a BREEAM rating of 'Excellent' and an EPC rating of 'A' in the middle of 2023. It will take advantage of the site's outline planning consent to build the units, ranging from 7,466 sq ft to 141,460 sq ft, offering opportunities for both B2 and B8 occupiers.

Tony Watkins, Development Director at Panattoni, said: "We will be offering a wide range of unit sizes to occupiers in an area where there is a critical lack of stock to serve such a big market of consumers".

Letting agents are DTRE, Lambert Smith Hampton and SHW.

West Sussex's Locally Sauced Festival, on 23-24 July, has been featured in the Guardian as one of the 10 best spring and summer food festivals in the UK this year. 

The festival, in Haywards Heath, aims to promote sustainable Sussex produce, from food and drink to fashion. Local beers, wines, ciders and gin will be stocked and there will be street food on sale and an artisan market.

The festival also includes a lifestyle area with homeware and clothes shops – featuring personal shoppers – and a kids' zone with soft play and craft workshops.

Toploader will headline the Sunday night, following performances from local bands throughout the day.

For more information, visit www.locallysaucedfestival.com

Mid Sussex MP and Minister for Employment Mims Davies officially opened Roche Diagnostics' National Distribution Centre last month.

The new facility in Goddards Green consolidates the pharmaceutical company's commitment to Mid Sussex, with its UK and Ireland headquarters based in Burgess Hill.

Investment in the National Distribution Centre has enabled Roche to increase its operational capacity and has also created skilled jobs in the district, with more than 60 people employed at the purpose-built facility.

Roche Diagnostics' tests and medical devices are distributed to pathology laboratories, GP surgeries and patients across the UK, and the distribution centre ships about 2,000 different types of products a day.

Mrs Davies, unveiled a plaque on the day and said: "I was delighted to formally open Roche Diagnostics' National Distribution Centre here in Mid Sussex and to see how this impressive facility is providing patients with access to critical diagnostics products, as well as also importantly creating more skilled job opportunities for the area."

Geoff Twist, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland, said: "The National Distribution Centre at Goddards Green represents our continued commitment to the UK diagnostics industry and supporting the NHS to ensure patients have access to our life-changing diagnostic tests and products now and in the future. This new facility features the latest in distribution technology and will be key to growing our operations in the UK. We are also proud to be creating skilled jobs in the local community."

Allison Brett, Distribution Centre Manager, Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland said: "It was wonderful to have the Minister formally open our new purpose-built National Distribution Centre and meet some of our exceptional team members. I am extremely proud of the role our centre has played in supporting the NHS throughout the pandemic and we will continue to work tirelessly to support the NHS and patients during this challenging period and beyond."

Mid Sussex will once again be showcased at leading regeneration conference Real Estate Live UK – with a session focusing on how the region is a place of partnerships.

The free-to-attend online session, at 10.30am on 28 June, is part of a three-day programme for the leading property and regeneration platform next month and will showcase Mid Sussex as an ambitious, forward-thinking district that is open for business.

Mid Sussex: A Place of Partnership, will see the pipeline of future projects discussed, including investment into a Science and Technology Park, the creation of 25 hectares of new employment space in Burgess Hill creating thousands of high value jobs, as well as the importance of partnership working in the region.

Speakers confirmed to join the panel debate include:

• James Chaffer, Chief Executive, UK Science Park Association
• Adelphi Group of Companies
• Graham Hyslop, Projects Director - South (Interim), Homes England
• 
  

With more to be announced soon.

For more information, and to sign up, visit https://realestatelive.co.uk/event/mid-sussex-a-place-of-partnership/

Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, Mims Davies and a team from Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) and Universal Quantum were shown round the University of Sussex' extensive research facilities.

Originating from the University of Sussex' strategic research programmes, and now a leading Mid Sussex based innovative quantum computing company, Universal Quantum owe their origins to the University and its rich and varied expertise and research environment.

Universal Quantum, now with headquarters in Haywards Heath, are building quantum computers to tackle complex, real-world problems in everything from climate change to drug discovery.

Dr Sebastian Weidt, CEO and co-founder of Universal Quantum, said:

"Quantum computers will tackle problems that would take today's most powerful supercomputers billions of years to solve. But, to unlock the full potential of quantum computing and change the world, we need millions of quantum bits (qubits). We've been focused on creating a million-qubit quantum computer from day one."

Professor Winfried Hensinger, Chief Scientist at Universal Quantum added:

"The world is entering a new quantum era with quantum computing predicted to create $850 billion of value in the next 15 to 30 years. With the right support our region could play a leading role in this new industry sector."

As can be seen through the relocation of Universal Quantum, cutting edge technology industries are growing quickly in Mid Sussex, with Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council commenting:

"We have worked hard in Mid Sussex to attract and establish centres of excellence and we are proud to now be able to say that we have clusters of specialists in everything from digital and creative industries through life sciences and fintech to Quantum computing."

Councillor Ash-Edwards added: "As an authority MSDC stands ready to support further investment through £1.1 billion worth of opportunity sites, which will shortly also include the region's first science and technology park".

MSDC's inwards investment programme, Opportunity Mid Sussex (opportunitymidsussex.co.uk) aims to attract further scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to join Universal Quantum and others already based here amongst one of the UK's most skilled knowledge-based economy workforces.

Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex said: "I was delighted to visit the University of Sussex to see and understand the tremendous capabilities these computers have and the vital jobs and opportunities they will bring to our area. The impact and advances these computers can make in certain sectors is phenomenal and we are incredibly lucky in Mid Sussex to have this technology being built on our doorstep. I cannot wait to see the difference they will make." 

Mid Sussex District Council has allocated almost £70,000 in grant funding to help local independent retailers improve their businesses. 

At a meeting of the Council's Cabinet Grants Panel on Monday 21 February, Mid Sussex District Council awarded £69,350 to 23 local companies, so they can make improvements to their storefronts, modernise the interior and purchase new equipment.

The store improvement grants are part of a programme of support for independent retailers, funded by a shared pool of business rates collected by councils in West Sussex. In addition to the grants, all independent businesses are being offered FREE expert training and advice through the online West Sussex Retail Hub, part of the countywide Independent Retailers Support Programme.

Councillor Stephen Hillier, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said:

"It can be tough for small independent businesses to compete with large multi-national corporations so we're doing what we can to try and level the playing field. We recognise that, for many of our residents the variety and uniqueness of our independents, particularly in areas like clothing, are very highly valued and a real draw to our High Streets.

"The Independent Retailers Support Programme provides specialist assistance that's tailored towards their needs, helping our independent retailers to improve the appearance of their shop units, create a better shopping experience inside their stores and generally help them to improve their business operations and become more competitive.

"Supporting independent retailers in this way helps to create a positive spiral of prosperity.

By using business rates to support our small independent retailers, they can become more profitable and grow their businesses, further boosting the local economy and adding value to our local High Streets." 

"These multi-million-pound improvements will lead to significant benefits for the area in supporting the provision of new jobs, homes and workspace" 

The £23million A2300 improvements scheme was officially opened today (Friday, 8 April) and will help to boost the local economy and support new housing.

The widening of around 2.4km of single-lane road to dual carriageway near Burgess Hill provides the highway infrastructure to support the provision of:

• more than 3,500 new homes,
• 3,600 new jobs
• 200,000m2 new employment floor space

The scheme has also provided opportunities for people to make active/sustainable travel choices, with provision for pedestrians and people who cycle:

• a 3m-wide, shared-use path on the north-side between the A23 and the Northern Arc roundabout (currently under construction)
• a 2.5m-wide, shared-use path on the south-side between the A23 and Pookbourne Lane junction and between Bishopstone Lane and Cuckfield Road roundabout.

The improvements were officially opened by West Sussex County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Joy Dennis, who cut a ribbon stretched across the new, shared-use path.

Guests were given an e-bike demonstration, courtesy of the County Council's Bikeability team, and a tour of the new road and other improvements on a bus kindly provided by Compass Travel.

Joy said: "These multi-million-pound improvements will lead to significant benefits for the area in supporting the provision of new jobs, homes and workspace.

"The A2300 is an important route for people commuting to and from Burgess Hill and links the town to the A23/M23 strategic road corridor. Sustainable travel options have also been provided, with new, shared use paths built for pedestrians and cyclists.

"I would like to thank everyone involved in the scheme and all road users for their patience while these vital improvements were being built."

Rupert Chitty, Contracts Director at Jackson Civil Engineering, which was the principal contractor for the scheme, said: "On behalf of Jackson Civil Engineering I'd like to say what a huge pleasure it has been in delivering the A2300 improvement scheme on behalf of West Sussex.

"There have been many challenges along the way, but we very much hope the finished scheme will lead to future growth and opportunity in the surrounding area and greatly enhance the commute and safety for the users, be it by vehicles, bike or by foot. Jackson are a regionally-focused contractor and this has enabled us to employ a large percentage of people and supply chain partners from West Sussex and surrounding areas during the construction. We would like to thank every one of them for their efforts in delivering this project in a safe and professional manner."

The scheme was jointly funded by central government through the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Deal, developer contributions and the county council.

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: "The completion of this major improvement and the wider connections being delivered within Burgess Hill demonstrates more evidence of infrastructure being delivered to support the new homes being built in Burgess Hill, the additional employment spaces and the creation of new job opportunities. It shows what can be achieved when organisations work together to deliver projects and services through the Growth Programme partnership between Mid Sussex District and West Sussex County."

Anthony Middleton, Acting Chief Executive at Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "Improving transport infrastructure is a strategic priority of our vision to build back stronger, smarter and greener. I'm delighted that Coast to Capital has been able to support the A2300 project through Local Growth Fund investment of £17million, which will greatly benefit businesses in Burgess Hill and the surrounding areas."

This article was originally published here

Mid Sussex District Council has started work to deliver a new 9-hectare Centre for Outdoor Sport to the west of Burgess Hill.

At a meeting of Cabinet on Monday 21 March, Members were presented with an initial Feasibility Study and draft Masterplan, which outlined a range of sporting facilities that could be provided in the new Mid Sussex Centre for Outdoor Sport.

The project is at an early stage and the Council has provided indicative plans to give local people an idea of what could be delivered on site. Extensive public engagement will be carried out with the local community over the next 12 months to shape and refine the proposals.

Funding for the multi-million-pound project is being provided by developer contributions to ensure essential infrastructure improvements are delivered alongside new homes at the Northern Arc and across Burgess Hill. The Centre for Outdoor Sport will be built on a new site to the south of the A2300 near Burgess Hill and will provide first class facilities for a range of outdoor sports.

Following engagement with national sporting bodies, there will be consultation with local sports clubs and other potential users before any plans are finalised. The Feasibility Study has shown that pitches for multiple sports with pavilions, changing facilities and parking can be provided on the site.

The Feasibility Study has been drawn up in consultation with a range of sporting organisations including Sport England, Active Sussex, the Football Foundation, Sussex Cricket and the Rugby Football Union.

Consultants will now be appointed to oversee the next phase of the project and they will work with local sports groups, and the wider community, to develop detailed designs and ensure the views of all potential users are considered. Feedback from the local community will help to shape the plans over the next year, with the aim of obtaining planning permission in 2023 and opening the new facilities to the public in 2025.

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

"Residents want to see new infrastructure alongside major housing developments and the District Council has acted to ensure the Northern Arc development delivers.

"The new Centre for Outdoor Sports will represent the biggest investment in sports provision in Mid Sussex for a generation. The Council has secured almost nine hectares of land from the development and millions of pounds of funding to deliver this exciting project.

"We are committed to delivering modern facilities for our local community and this project will make a massive difference to local sports provision and the availability of pitches. Sport makes such a difference to people's wellbeing and we want to maximise the sporting opportunities available in Mid Sussex.

"The project is still at an early stage but it's going to be really exciting to see a top-class Centre for Outdoor Sports take shape in Mid Sussex over the next few years".

Councillor John Belsey, Deputy Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said:

"I'm looking forward to engaging with local sports clubs and groups to hear their views on the Centre for Outdoor Sports and using these to shape the detailed design.

"It's fantastic news that we're able to deliver an additional 9 hectares of outdoor sports provision in Mid Sussex and it demonstrates our commitment to ensuring infrastructure is delivered alongside new developments".

ENDS 

Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Councillor Robert Salisbury, has welcomed the progress being made to deliver a new school at the Northern Arc in Burgess Hill.

West Sussex County Council and the Regional Schools Commissioner have appointed the University of Brighton Academy Trust to run the new 'all-through' primary and secondary school, which will provide high quality education for 4-16-year-olds.

The Northern Arc is a flagship scheme which will provide 3,500 new homes in Burgess Hill alongside new roads, schools, shops, public open spaces and community facilities. The project is being managed by Homes England, the Government's housing accelerator, which means that essential infrastructure is delivered either in advance of, or alongside the new housing.

A two-year project to widen the A2300 is now nearing completion, with remaining works focussing on improvements to nearby paths, cycleways and bridleways, lighting, signage and tree planting. The expansion to a dual carriageway will increase capacity on this important link between Burgess Hill and the A23/M23, helping to reduce congestion and pollution as the town continues to grow.

The A2300 will be connected to the east of Burgess Hill by a new link road that will run through the Northern Arc site round to Maple Drive. Homes England has building contractors on site and work is already underway to create the Eastern and Western ends of the new link road. Both sections will be finished this year, facilitating the construction of new homes, schools and employment facilities.

Councillor Robert Salisbury, MSDC Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said:

"We are delighted that another milestone has been reached with the appointment of a sponsor for the All-Through school in the Northern Arc.

"The speed at which essential infrastructure is being delivered in Burgess Hill demonstrates just how important it is that we're working in partnership with Homes England on the Northern Arc project.

"Homes England is committed to providing infrastructure improvements at the earliest possible stage to ensure that new homes can be delivered sensibly and sustainably. It's fantastic to see that philosophy in action, with work to expand the road network, improve sustainable transport infrastructure, and provide much needed community facilities well underway before any new homes are completed.

"West Sussex County Council's plans for this new school look incredibly exciting and the progress being made is another example of the hugely important infrastructure being delivered alongside the housing in Burgess Hill."

Northern Arc update on site progress January/February 2022 

Countryside Properties

Countryside Properties are building 460 homes at the Northern Arc, over 50% of them as affordable housing.

All apartment bocks in phase one are now under construction and we are due to start a further 16 plots this spring. We're building them with timber frames as part of our plans to use sustainable materials where possible. Brickworks have begun and some of these apartments are now being painted.

The construction of the main spine road through the site will soon be complete. the last remaining section will tie into main bridge works between the Countryside and Sisk sites.

The first homes, all of which are affordable housing and delivered by Sage Housing, are expected to be ready for people to move in by late spring this year. The homes will range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom family homes, including properties for those aged 55 plus and fully wheelchair-accessible homes. There will be a mixture of homes for rent and for shared ownership (part-buy, part-rent)

If you would like to find out whether you qualify for affordable housing, please visit midsussex.gov.uk/housing-council-tax/apply-for-social-housing If you would like to know more about buying a property on the private market, you can register your interest at countrysideproperties.com.

Jackson

Jackson Civil Engineering is building the Western Link road, connecting the A2300 in the north to Jane Murray Way in the south, with new roundabouts built at the intersections with the existing highway.

Since the previous update, Jackson have commenced installation of new foul water rising main diversion. Construction has also started on foul water drainage systems and to the mammal crossings under the proposed new carriageway.

The provision of ducting for power supplies, internet routing and street lighting is due to commence in early Spring 2022, and we will progress work on the road itself.

For more information about Jackson Civil Engineering, please visit www.jackson-civils.co.uk/

John Sisk and Son

John Sisk & Son will build the Eastern Bridge and Link Road which will join Freeks Lane to Isaacs Lane.

Since the previous update, Sisk have continued to make progress with the first stage of earthworks and the installation of drainage within the new road.

South East Water have started to install the new water main that will provide drinking water to homes at the new development.

Sisk have installed a temporary bridge across the River Adur to provide access for construction vehicles and materials to the other side of the new road bridge that will connect the Freeks Farm development to Isaacs Lane. For more information, see www.johnsiskandson. com, follow on Twitter @JohnSiskandSon or on LinkedIn at John Sisk & Son Ltd 

How are Homes England's developer partners at the Northern Arc prioritising sustainability as they build new homes?

Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in all of our lives. Whether that's through the use of smart energy metres, the transport we use every day, or the goods we buy from the supermarket, taking the 'green' approach isn't just of benefit to the world around us – it boosts our physical and mental wellbeing on an individual level too. Like many other sectors, the construction industry is increasingly making sustainable, efficient choices. Homes England are making sure that developer partners across all its projects are future-focussed in their design and build techniques and the Northern Arc is no exception.

Countryside Properties, the first house builder to join the Northern Arc, are employing a range of modern methods of construction (MMC) techniques. This will not just minimise the developer's carbon footprint on site but also means the homes they build will be more energy efficient. The people who live in those homes for generations to come will be able do so in an energy efficient, sustainable and cost-effective manner.

So, just what is sustainable construction? Picture a house being built. You might imagine bricks, cement, cranes and hard hats – and you'd be right to think of those things. But as the construction industry moves to ensure its work is as green as possible, modern methods of construction are coming to the fore. The term can refer to any number of things. Modular buildings constructed in a factory, pre-cast concrete foundations and the use of timber frames all fall under the term modern methods of construction.

Each of them allows for high-quality, energy efficient housing to be delivered at speed – a crucial factor when you consider the need for increased housing provision across the UK. In 2017, the Government set the housebuilding industry a target of building 300,000 homes per year by the mid-2020s. In order for that target to be reached, spokespeople from within government and the housebuilding industry all agree that modern methods of construction will play a critical role.

Ready-made foundations, walls, roofs and even entire rooms can be constructed entirely in a factory, before being transported to their end destination for assembly and installation. This process can be completed in a matter of hours. The use of MMC techniques allows for housebuilding to take place at speed with no compromise on quality, meaning it will play a vital role in the construction of houses across the country in future years. 

Countryside Properties are making great progress at the Oakhurst/Freeks Farm site at the Northern Arc, with the first residents due to move into their homes in spring 2022. Countryside's work has been aided by their use of timber in structural frames for homes. These timber frames, which are initially constructed off site and then transported to the Northern Arc, are used to support internal and external walls in each of the homes they build.

The use of timber frames also provides Countryside with a great deal of flexibility for both the size, layout and final appearance of each property. Once on site, the timber frames, which are made using renewable materials, are clad in brickwork for the external structure, or other materials for internal structures.

Countryside Properties are using timber frames constructed by specialists at Stewart Milne Timber Systems. Antony Iren, Senior Development Manager at Countryside Properties, recently visited their factory in Witney. "I've seen timber frames on site at the Northern Arc, but to visit the factory really brings home what an innovative tool this is. For a business such as Countryside, making the most of these new construction techniques brings lots of benefits. We're using renewable materials and they give us flexibility in the building process, enabling us to build quickly on site without having to compromise on quality at all. I've no doubt that these sorts of innovations will benefit both housebuilders and the people who will live in the homes we build."

Simon Horn, the Technical Manager for Stewart Milne, spoke about carbon savings and the long term sustainability benefits of pre-made timber construction methods: "Life cycle studies of timber frame homes show that they significantly outperform alternatives - timber saves about 40% of carbon emissions in comparison to concrete and about 30% compared to steel. According to the Committee on Climate Change, using wood in construction instead of high-carbon materials such as cement and steel is one of the most effective ways to use limited biomass resources to mitigate climate change.

Countryside Properties and other Homes England developer partners will continue to use industry leading Modern Methods of Construction at the Northern Arc to ensure we're building sustainable homes for a sustainable community.

 This article was originally posted on BurgessHill.net

In partnership, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council working with the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, have secured a £22.8m funding package for sustainable transport improvements for Burgess Hill.

In addition to road improvements, it is vital that sustainable transport measures are put in place to provide a safe and reliable alternative to using the car. In partnership, Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council working with the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, have secured a £22.8m funding package for sustainable transport improvements for Burgess Hill.