The Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme is a new ambitious project developed through a partnership between Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council to transform Burgess Hill into a 21st century sustainable town with improved transport and highways infrastructure. It also aims to create opportunities for economic growth through new jobs and the delivery of residential and commercial development.
The challenge
Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) signed the Mid Sussex Growth deal in 2017. The deal focuses on specific priority projects to bring local improvements for residents, businesses and visitors and these objectives are delivered by the Mid Sussex Growth Programme which aims to encourage economic growth in the area through the delivery of ambitious residential and commercial development. Since 2020, the Growth Programme has also had a focus on the COVID-19 economic recovery. In practical terms, the programme seeks to build 5,000 new homes, 200,000 sqm of new commercial space as well as 5,000 new jobs.
In addition, one of the priority focuses is to transform Burgess Hill into a fully sustainable 21st century town to create opportunities for economic growth.
The solution
The Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity Programme (PCP) sits within the Mid Sussex Growth Programme and is considered one of the most ambitious programmes in the region which continues to attract significant investment from both private and public sectors. It is anticipated that this investment will transform Burgess Hill through the delivery of new homes, new commercial space and social, highway, transport, and public realm infrastructure to support a vibrant and accessible town centre. Through the growth programme, it will invest in key infrastructure to deliver on this ambition and ensure development is connected to key facilities, and create safe, direct, and attractive routes to encourage greater use of walking, cycling and public transport.
To deliver on this, the intention is to create 17km networks of pedestrian and cycle routes providing high quality links between key areas. The programme also seeks to safeguard highway capacity and encourage modal shift for local and commuting trips.
The PCP is delivered through a partnership approach not only between MSDC and WSCC but also with partners such as Homes England. This provides an efficient, coordinated response to challenges and ensures a joined-up approach in the design and delivery of infrastructure. A partnership approach facilitates the capacity to pool assets, coordinate large scale projects and bring momentum for economic improvements.
The impact
The PCP has already delivered approximately 11km of off-highway and Public Rights of Way (PROW) pedestrian and cycle improvements through the Growth Deal’s partnership work.
Further improvements, such as more mobility routes through Homes England’s flagship Northern Arc in Burgess Hill and further PCP phases, will be delivered by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) in 2022/23. The PCP will also unlock new high value jobs in technology led industries through the construction of a network of new and improved pedestrian and cycle routes linking key destinations and activity generators. It will also enhance the quality of facilities for public transport interchange at Burgess Hill and Wivelsfield station.
Additionally, £23 million has been committed to the A2300 Duelling scheme which will provide significant highway capacity and safety improvements between major growth areas including Northern Arc and the A23 corridor. The works commenced in April 2020 and is programmed for completion in March 2022, providing capacity improvements to support the planned growth within Burgess Hill. Overall, through £2.1m Local Government Funding (LGF), the PCP has supported the design and delivery of additional pedestrian, cycle and (PROW) improvements within the corridor enhancing the connectivity between strategic development sites and pedestrian and cycle networks within the town including:
- A2300 including additional pedestrian and cycle links
- Burgess Hill Western Gateway, Burgess Hill, and Wivelsfield Station Improvements
- Victoria Business Park Access and Connectivity Improvements
- Church Road and Church Walk Public Realm Improvements.
How is the approach being sustained?
The Growth Deal commits resource for the programme and project management from both WSCC and MSDC to ensure the delivery of identified projects. The PCP comprises senior officers and managers from both authorities with design and construction support procured through the relevant Local Authority Framework together with a Governance structure involving Members from all three tiers of Local Government. The PCP is funded through a £10.9 million LGF grant and £10.9 million match funding secured through Section 106, Developer Obligations and Direct Delivery of infrastructure.
Lessons learned
Key lessons include the benefits of close partnership and engagement to ensure the co-ordination of governance and delivery of schemes between partners. It also ensures a flexible approach to programme funding to ensure shared priorities are progressed together and there are opportunities to leverage funding through ongoing stakeholder and partnership engagement.
Relevant resources
Contact
Emma Verrinder