WHAT A MESS
Lib Dems STILL
not fixing Burgess Hill
The Martlets and the Beehive: two Burgess Hill projects, years of delay, and still nothing to show for them.
The Martlets shopping centre
20 years of “Coming Soon”
The Martlets, Burgess Hill – today
2006
Mid Sussex District Council puts forward initial plans to rescue our dying 1970s shopping centre.
2010
Developer NewRiver acquires the lease.
2016
First official planning permission approved.
2019
Demolition of Martlets Hall commenced.
2020–22
Boards go up, and some retailers leave as the project stalls.
2023
Lib Dems take control of the District Council from the Tories.
2024
Council votes to form a joint venture partnership with NewRiver.
2025
Plans redrawn, scaled back and new permission approved.
2026
Still a derelict eyesore
A conditional legal agreement was signed months ago. As of 12 October the centre remains an eyesore and a wasteland.
On this recent YouTube video, Burgess Hill is now ranked the No.1 worst town in West Sussex!
Watch on YouTubeThe Beehive community centre
8 years of rising costs and shrinking plans
The Beehive site, Cyprus Road – today
2018
Burgess Hill Town Council proposes a new community hub. Cost est. £5.5m.
2019
Lib Dems take control of the Town Council and backs the Beehive.
2021
Council secures the offer of a massive £4.8m public loan, shifting the financial burden onto Burgess Hill taxpayers.
2022
Construction costs skyrocket to a staggering £9.4m. The council freezes the project. The original architects leave.
2023
A new team is hired to strip the design down to a strict £5m budget.
2025
Over £800,000 now spent. Project again put on hold while another option was considered.
2026
Still an abandoned plot
The project is now downsized and delayed, while the former Royal British Legion site continues to sit empty.
Burgess Hill
deserves better.
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