The Martlets Redevelopment in Burgess Hill

Last week, the proposed redevelopment of the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill was approved by Mid Sussex Town Councillors. The decision will mean a large scale investment of around ￡65 million over a 3-4 year period.

The development will include a 10 screen cinema, a 63 bed Travelodge Hotel, 135 new residential homes, plenty of new retail space as well as a new library and a new gym. NewRiver Retail will be behind the new development with work due to start in late 2016 and be concluded by 2019.

With any major development, there will always be strong arguments both for and against. In this circumstance, the disruption to local traffic throughout the construction period will probably cause a headache for some, namely local residents and those who commute by car to work within the town. There may also be some current retail shop victims as their current location could well be absorbed within the new development. 

However, on the flip side, the development could be exactly what Burgess Hill needs to further its already strong reputation as a popular town within our wonderful County of Sussex. Unfortunately the town is not awash with your typical high street retail shops, though the creation of all the additional retail space will hopefully encourage a broad variety of strong, recognisable brands to launch within the new Martlets. Ultimately, the broader range of shops available, the more people will travel to use the facility rather than heading to Brighton or Crawley respectively. 

Councillor Garry Wall, head of Mid Sussex District Council, said: “Revitalising the Martlets Shopping Centre is a major boost for Burgess Hill. Local people deserve a town centre that has the shops and restaurants that they want to visit. This development will mean there is more for families and people to do in the evenings, making Burgess Hill a great place to shop, relax and spend free time. As more people are attracted to the town, existing local businesses will benefit from the increased footfall and this economic boost has the potential to bring a real feel-good factor to the town.” (Source - The Argus)

I have to agree with Mr Wall, the new development will certainly encourage more residents to use their own town facilities rather than a competitors, it will also help to drive additional footfall into the town centre which can only have a positive impact on those already here. It will also have a good impact on local jobs, undoubtedly creating plenty of new opportunities.

What about the impact on the local property market? Well, Burgess Hill is already a hugely popular 'commuter' town due to the great transport links available. The demand for property is strong and by having a revitalised shopping centre, this will only act as a catalyst to the desirability within the area, therefore potentially increasing the value of your home. 

Should you require an up to date market appraisal of your property, i'd love to assist you. We specialise in sales, lettings & property management, so whatever your plans, Carnabys can accommodate them. For more information on our Estate Agency, or for a general chat, feel free to contact me directly on 01444 245201 or click the banner below to head to our website.

I hope you enjoyed reading this short blog, I'd welcome any comments, positive or negative, as I'm keen to know your thoughts on the development.