The 2025 to 2030 deal prioritises the Martlets, Brookleigh, a science and technology park and East Grinstead town centre, after £330m of private investment first time round.

Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council have renewed the Mid Sussex Growth Deal for a further five years, covering 2025 to 2030, with the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill, a science and technology park, and the East Grinstead Town Centre Improvement Plan at the top of the list. The renewal was announced on 7 August. (Mid Sussex District Council, 7 August 2026)

The deal is the two councils’ joint programme for attracting investment into the district. Its first run, from 2018 to 2023, helped secure more than £67 million of public sector funding and approximately £330 million of private sector funding. The councils credit it with the A2300 upgrade, improvements to local wastewater treatment works, the Green Circle walking and cycling network, the new Burgess Hill Library and The Arc Centre for Outdoor Sport. (Mid Sussex District Council)

The renewed deal names five priorities: the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill, new infrastructure and community facilities at Brookleigh, delivery of a science and technology park, delivery of the East Grinstead Town Centre Improvement Plan, and sustainable transport and connectivity across the district. (Mid Sussex District Council)

Panel listing the five priorities of the renewed Mid Sussex Growth Deal 2025 to 2030 and the funding secured under the 2018 to 2023 deal: more than £67 million public and approximately £330 million private
Graphic by Mid Sussex News

Councillor Robert Eggleston, leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said the renewed deal “is about investing in the future of Mid Sussex and ensuring our communities continue to thrive”. Councillor Yvonne Gravely, cabinet member for economy and skills at West Sussex County Council, said projects “such as the Science and Technology Park in Burgess Hill have the potential to create thousands of new jobs while helping local people develop valuable science and technology skills”. (Mid Sussex District Council)

The Martlets scheme is the furthest along of the named priorities. On 22 July, Full Council agreed the next stage of the regeneration project, allowing the district council, NewRiver REIT plc and their partners to continue working on plans to redevelop the site through a proposed joint venture. If the remaining conditions are met, work on site is expected to begin later this year. (Mid Sussex District Council, 24 July 2026)

What it means for you

Burgess Hill town centre is the one to watch this year. The council says Martlets building work could start on site before the end of 2026 if the joint venture’s remaining conditions are met, so expect visible change, and some disruption, in the centre of Burgess Hill. (Mid Sussex District Council)

The jobs claim rests on the science park. The “thousands of new jobs” figure quoted by West Sussex County Council is attached to the proposed science and technology park in Burgess Hill, which the deal commits to delivering but which is not yet built. (Mid Sussex District Council)

Where the growth goes is still open for comment. The Growth Deal sits alongside the District Plan, which sets where new homes are built. The consultation on the plan’s proposed changes, including a housing requirement raised to 24,071 homes, closes at 23:59 on Monday 7 September 2026: our Mid Sussex planning page explains what is proposed and how to respond.