Mid Sussex News
The latest Mid Sussex news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Copthorne Common: 86 Homes and Retirement Village Approved
Councillors approved both plans for fields south of the A264 at Copthorne Common: up to 86 homes, voted 9-1, and a 101-unit retirement village, 10-0.
More stories
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill Stolen Motorcycle: Police Appeal After Park Road Assault
A man of 21 dislocated his shoulder when a stolen BMW motorcycle hit him in Park Road, Burgess Hill, on 12 October. Police want the bike traced: call 101, serial 766 of 13/10.
Haywards Heath
Clair Hall Developer Named: Wates to Build £23m Scheme
Wates Residential will redevelop Clair Hall, paying £3.4m towards a 330-capacity cinema and stage venue. Public consultation is due in the first half of 2027, with building from 2028.
Data
Mid Sussex Claimant Count 2,075, Fastest Rise in West Sussex
2,075 people in Mid Sussex claimed unemployment-related benefits in September, up 10.1% in a year: the steepest rise of West Sussex's seven districts.
Weather
Ardingly Fireworks Postponed to Sunday by Storm Austen
Ardingly Fireworks moves to Sunday 25 October, same times, Saturday tickets valid. Nymans and High Beeches shut today as two wind warnings cover Mid Sussex.
Planning
Ansty 33 Homes Approved 12-0, but the Footway Is a Catch
33 homes off Marwick Close, Ansty, approved 12-0. If the A272 footway land is not public highway, the plan goes back to committee on 3 December.
Haywards Heath
Beech Hurst Gardens Wins Gold and Best Park at In Bloom
Beech Hurst Gardens in Haywards Heath won Gold and its park category at South and South East in Bloom 2026, and the district's volunteer rangers won two more.
Haywards Heath
Clair Hall: Cabinet Approves £1.5m, Wates Named Developer
Cabinet backed Wates Residential for Clair Hall and up to £1.5m of council reserves for a four-screen Digital Picture House venue and 39 homes. Planning comes next.
Burgess Hill
Keymer Hall Burgess Hill Wins Care Home Design of the Year
Keymer Hall on Kings Way won Care Home Design of the Year at the Leaders in Care Awards on 6 October, ten months after its first residents moved in.
Haywards Heath
Maxwelton House: £255,000 Affordable Housing Cut Agreed
Councillors voted 9-3 on 15 October to cut McCarthy Stone's affordable housing payment for 50 Boltro Road flats from £913,000 to £658,000, with a late review.
Copthorne
Copthorne Common: 86 Homes and Retirement Village Approved
Both plans for fields south of the A264 at Copthorne Common were approved on 15 October: up to 86 homes, 26 affordable, voted 9-1, and a 101-unit retirement village.
Haywards Heath
Clair Hall: Cabinet Backs £1.5m for Cinema and 39 Homes
Cabinet agreed on 12 October to appoint a Clair Hall developer and add up to £1.5m. The plan: a four-screen cinema venue and 39 homes, with no affordable housing.
Crawley Down
Crawley Down Village Hall Approved 12-0 for Haven Car Park
Crawley Down's new village hall is approved: councillors voted 12-0 on 8 October and permission was issued on 9 October. Size, parking, trees and conditions.
East Grinstead
East Grinstead Parking Permits Rise: First Permit Now £68
East Grinstead's resident permit is now £68 in Zone A and £40 in Zone B, and visitor permits are up 17%. Every new price, and what changed overnight.
Hassocks
Downlands School Hassocks Ofsted: Strong in 4 of 6 Areas
Downlands Community School in Hassocks is rated strong for achievement, teaching, leadership and personal development. The grades, results and open days.
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill Anti-Social Behaviour Up 52% on Last Year
339 anti-social behaviour reports in central Burgess Hill from March to July, up from 223 a year earlier. Haywards Heath fell. The streets, and how to report.
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill Grants: £13,042 Shared by 12 Local Groups
Theatre Club gets £3,000 for air conditioning after heat cancelled two shows. All 12 Burgess Hill Town Council grants listed, and when the next round opens.
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill SEND Fun Sessions 26 October: Free, Book Ahead
Free half-term sessions for families of children with SEND on 26 October at The King's Church. Booking opens 28 September, one ticket per family, ages 3 to 18.
Burgess Hill
Burgess Hill Bonfire Night Saturday: Roads Shut 6.30pm
Saturday 26 September: processions at 7.30pm and 8.40pm, fireworks at 9.45pm at Fairfield Rec, roads shut 6.30pm to 10.30pm and three bus routes diverted.
Planning
Mid Sussex Padel: 10th Court Site Filed at Turners Hill
A padel centre with cafe and member shop is proposed at Crabbet Park, Turners Hill. Comments close 9 October. It is Mid Sussex's 10th padel site since 2018.
House prices
Mid Sussex House Prices July 2026: Up £3,514 to £430,777
The average Mid Sussex home gained £3,514 in July to £430,777, ending a two-month slide. Flats are down 2.6% on the year while semi-detached houses are up 0.9%.
Copthorne
Copthorne Hotel Petition Reaches Commons With 1,927 Names
Mims Davies presented the Copthorne Hotel petition to the Commons on 8 September with 1,927 names. The council motion it cites says something different.
Data
Mid Sussex Claimant Count Hits 2,025, Highest Since 2021
Mid Sussex had 2,025 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in August, the most since September 2021 and the fastest annual rise in West Sussex.
Schools
Lindfield Primary Academy Ofsted: Strong in 4 of 7 Areas
Lindfield Primary Academy is strong in 4 of 7 Ofsted areas and Blackthorns strong for achievement. Both met safeguarding in report cards out 9 September.
Planning
Imberhorne Lane 550 Homes Approved 9-0: What Comes First
550 homes off Imberhorne Lane, 165 affordable, approved 9-0 on 17 September. What gets built, and the 150-home cap until the school's new pitches open.
Council
Mid Sussex Leisure Centre Visits Fall From 1.8m to 1.6m
Mid Sussex leisure centre visits fell from 1.8m to 1.6m in 2025/26, and the three centres need £12.77m of work by 2034. Scrutiny meets on 16 September.
Council
Mid Sussex Temporary Accommodation Rises to 122 Households
Mid Sussex has 122 households in temporary accommodation, up from 105 a year ago, and 54 of them have children. Cabinet sees the figures on Monday.
Council
Mid Sussex Council Merger Paused: Government Sets No Date
The government paused West Sussex reorganisation on 7 September with no timetable. Mid Sussex was to join a 566,000-person unitary with Crawley and Horsham.
Planning
Ashurst Wood Planning: 12 Homes Backed, Speak by Monday
Officers back 12 houses off Hammerwood Road, with £378,146 for schools, a GP surgery and play areas. Register by 1pm Monday to speak at the committee.
Business
Mid Sussex New Companies: 86 in August, Down From 117
86 companies registered a Mid Sussex address in August, down from 117 in July. Consultancy led the field, plus a Cuckfield garage and two campsite firms.
Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath to Lewes Trains Running Again From Today
Trains between Haywards Heath and Lewes restart today, 19 days after the derailment. Network Rail renewed 500 metres of track and replaced 850 sleepers.
Bins
Mid Sussex Bin Review: Recycling Up From 45% to 61%
Six months in, Mid Sussex recycling is up from 45% to 61% and residual waste down 26.6%. But 1,108 households reported problems. Scrutiny meets Wednesday.
Planning
Mid Sussex District Plan: 1,220 Extra Homes, 7 Sept Deadline
The changes add 1,220 homes on new sites at Hurstpierpoint, Sayers Common and Albourne, and lift Reed's Lane to 2,000. Comments close 11.59pm on 7 September.
Haywards Heath
Haywards Heath to Lewes Trains Off Until 1 September
No trains between Haywards Heath and Lewes until at least 1 September. Investigators found a track fault on CCTV footage taken before the derailment.
House prices
Mid Sussex House Prices Drop £6,592 in a Single Month
The average Mid Sussex home lost £6,592 in a month to £426,441, the steepest monthly fall of the seven West Sussex districts. Crawley is up 4.5%.
Schools
GCSE Results Day 2026: Mid Sussex Collection Times
Warden Park opens at 9am, Oathall at 10am, Imberhorne runs to 1pm on Thursday 20 August. Every published Mid Sussex collection time and ID rule.
Schools
Mid Sussex A level results 2026: every figure published
Haywards Heath College reports a 94.6% A level pass rate and Sackville nearly one in four grades at A*/A. Every Mid Sussex figure, and why they do not compare.
Water
Ardingly Reservoir at 61% after driest July on record
Ardingly Reservoir ended July at 61.22% of capacity against an 82% average, after the Ouse catchment recorded 0.4mm of rain. What the hosepipe ban actually bans.
Bins
Mid Sussex bin collections start at 6am in this week's heat
Put your bins out by 6am from Wednesday 12 to Friday 14 August: Mid Sussex crews are starting an hour early during the amber heat alert.
Council
Mid Sussex Growth Deal renewed: Martlets, science park first
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.