Deals to kickstart £65m regeneration scheme

Plans for the multimillion-pound redevelopment of Burgess Hill town centre in Sussex have taken a leap forward following the completion of two deals by developer NewRiver.The company has exchanged contracts with residential investment company Delph Property Group to purchase the 142 new residential units within the mixed-use regeneration scheme for £34m. NewRiver said this “significantly de-risks” the redevelopment which has projected base construction costs of £47m.NewRiver has also exchanged contracts with Lidl for the sale of the site on Leylands Road, where the supermarket’s new pupose-built store will be located.This follows the news last week (20 July) that the company had exchanged contracts with Mid Sussex District Council for a new Head Lease of the Martlets Shopping Centre, enabling NewRiver to have full rights to regenerate the shopping centre site.These deals will now allow the developer to begin its phased programme of work to deliver the multimillion-pound retail and leisure scheme in Burgess Hill. Phase one includes the provision of a temporary library and the demolition of the gas tower on the Leylands Road site. It is anticipated that preliminary works to clear the Leylands Road site will commence this week.As well as new homes and a Lidl, the town centre scheme will also include a ten-screen multiplex Cineworld, a 63-bed Travelodge hotel, an improved public realm and a new purpose-built library for the council, along with a new shopping and dining offer.The redevelopment, spanning 465,000 sq ft, is due to be completed in 2020.