Sage Housing appointed by Countryside Properties to deliver affordable housing at the Northern Arc, Burgess Hill

• Sage Housing have been appointed by Countryside Properties to deliver 237 affordable homes at the Northern Arc, split between 65% Affordable Rent and 35% Shared Ownership housing.
• Over 50% of the homes Countryside Properties will build at Freeks Farm will be Affordable Housing.
• Homes England is working closely with its developer partners and Mid Sussex District Council to provide homes that are accessible to all. At least 30% of every phase of homes at the Northern Arc will be Affordable Housing.

Sage Housing have been appointed by Countryside Properties, the first developer to build new homes at the Northern Arc, to deliver the Affordable Housing at Freeks Farm, with the first of these properties due to be ready before the end of this year. These will range from one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom family homes, including properties for those aged 55 plus and fully wheelchair-accessible homes. The first homes for private market sale are expected to be ready by summer 2022

Construction at the Northern Arc is now well underway with Countryside Properties making good progress at Freeks Farm, Jacksons onsite building the western link road and Sisk expecting to begin on the eastern bridge and link road this spring. These new access points in the east and west of the site will play a major part in unlocking the whole site whilst delivering essential road infrastructure at the same time as homes.

Ken Glendinning, Project Director at Homes England said:

"The appointment of the first affordable housing provider at the Northern Arc is a major milestone for the project. In an area of high house prices and housing demand, we are working closely with Mid Sussex District Council and our developer partners to make sure the Northern Arc helps meet the housing needs of local people."

Mark Sater, Chief Executive Officer at Sage Housing said: "We're delighted to be working with Countryside Properties, Homes England and Mid Sussex District Council to add high-quality affordable housing to the local community. Our long-term stable capital is helping to accelerate the provision of homes to those in most need."

People interested in learning more about if they qualify for affordable housing at the Northern Arc should contact Mid Sussex District Council or go to:

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/housing-council-tax/new-affordable-housing-information-for-the-public/

Latest Questions

In September 2020 the application to redevelop the Martlets Shopping Centre was approved by the Mid Sussex District Council planning committee. Since this decision, the country has been placed into another national lockdown which continues to create a challenging environment for businesses and retailers.

The focus for NewRiver in Burgess Hill continues to be on holding regular conversations with all parties as the next steps for the future of The Martlets Shopping Centre are mapped out. Due to the ongoing pandemic, and the retailer and occupier situation, the landscape still remains uncertain. Potential tenants are not currently in a position to commit, although we continue our discussions with proposed tenants, retailers and existing occupiers.

We hope to have further clarity on the next stages of delivery in the coming months, when the national picture is clearer and the lifting of restrictions clarified by national government.

We understand the local frustration at the lack of progress, however NewRiver remains committed to the redevelopment of The Martlets Shopping Centre and is grateful to the District Council and the local community for their patience as these talks continue. The planning permission that was granted in September states that a development plan for the whole site must be agreed with the Council before any development may commence. A development strategy for the whole site including the retail areas must therefore be programmed before the residential element could be started, unless otherwise approved, and NewRiver will continue to work closely with MSDC over the coming months.

In the meantime and as part of our ongoing commitment, we are offering flexible lease terms to start-up businesses enabling them to take space in formerly empty units and will continue to support this activity.

Latest Questions

 The works will be carried out from 30 January to 6 February 2021

John Sisk & Son Ltd will soon be conducting site clearance works along Isaacs Lane involving the felling of 8 trees and removal of approximately 31 metres of hedgerow. This work is associated with the construction of the Eastern Bridge and Link Road and will be carried out in accordance with the associated planning consent (DM/20/3247).

While the new road junction with Isaacs Lane means there will be some unavoidable tree loss, the Northern Arc is committed to deliver a 23% biodiversity net gain – meaning the quality of wildlife habitats on site will be higher after the development is complete than before it was begun. New planting at the Eastern Bridge and Link Road site will help to maintain habitat connectivity for wildlife.

The works will be carried out from 30 January to 6 February 2021. In order to undertake the works safely, Isaacs Lane will be closed fully during off peak hours (9:30am to 3:30pm) Monday to Sunday over this period. These works will be undertaken in strict adherence to Government and industry guidance relating to COVID-19.

During these works, residents that live on Isaacs Lane will have full access to their properties. We are hoping that by scheduling the road closures during off-peak hours and putting well-signed diversion routes in place we will limit the impact these works will have.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. If you have any questions about these preparation works or concerns during the work period, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to speak with John Sisk & Son Ltd, please call 01727 875 551.

Proposed Changes in the Section 106 Agreement have been submitted to MSDC for their District Planning Committee to review at their meeting on 14th January 2020.

The Section 106 Agreement is a legal agreement between Homes England and Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC). It sets out the detail of the planning conditions that require Homes England to provide community facilities such as schools, healthcare and parks - and the timings of when these must be delivered.

The Section 106 Agreement was agreed as part of the outline planning consent for the Northern Arc which was granted in 2018. In the time that has passed since then, a large amount of work has been carried out on the detailed phasing of the project and it has become apparent that some of the requirements of the agreement could be delivered to a higher standard if the timings were adjusted. This might be, for example, to allow more time for detailed designs to be produced, or to deliver something in a different order to focus infrastructure provision where it will be required the most.

Homes England has recently proposed some changes to the Section 106 Agreement. All the facilities from the original agreement will still be provided, these proposed changes are mainly about adjusting a small number of the timeframes. The proposed changes in the Section 106 Agreement have been submitted to MSDC for their District Planning Committee to review at their meeting on 14th January 2020. The committee will only approve the changes if they are satisfied that they will not have a negative impact on the delivery of a sustainable community at the Northern Arc.

You can view the committee papers published in advance of the meeting here. If you have any questions, please get in touch: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Site investigations associated with the design of the western link road for the Northern Arc are due to take place between Gatehouse Lane and the A2300 roundabout on Jane Murray Way between 14th and 18th December 2020.

Between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm on these days temporary two-way traffic lights will be in place on the A273 Jane Murray Way. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

The western link road and eastern bridge and link road are happening in the first phase of the Northern Arc's development as they are vital pieces of connecting infrastructure. The new highway connection between the A273 Jane Murray Way and the A2300, as well as the new roundabouts on the on the A273 Jane Murray Way and A2300 will enable construction traffic to access the site and deliver the first phase of Northern Arc Homes, without impeding traffic using the A273 Jane Murray Way to travel in and out of Burgess Hill Town Centre.

Thank you to those who were able to join our virtual drop-in session yesterday, we hope the information provided and questions we were able to answer through the presentation were helpful.

You can watch the recording of the session here.

View the Q&A document from the 15th September Virtual Drop-In Session here.

Thank you to those who were able to join our virtual drop-in session a few weeks ago. We hope the information provided and questions we were able to answer through the presentation were helpful.

If you missed the presentation, or would like to watch it again, you can watch the recording of the session here. We received a number of questions before and during the event, which we have answered in a Q&A document that you can view here. If you have any further questions, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will post regular updates on this website and on the Northern Arc Facebook page here:

Homes England share details of September's online community drop-in session. Members of the public asked to submit questions online by Monday 14th September at 5pm.

Online community drop-in session Homes England is holding its third quarterly drop-in session on Tuesday 15th September between 6.30pm and 7.30pm to provide the next progress update for the Northern Arc. Local residents can expect to hear about community building, the phasing of the development, Biodiversity Net Gain and from Countryside Properties who are onsite building the new homes at Freeks Farm.

How to join online

The drop-in will take the format of a series of live online presentations held on MS Teams Live. Anyone can join from a web browser on a computer using this link.

Those using a mobile phone or tablet will need to download the free Microsoft Teams app. Anyone without access to the internet or who needs the information from the drop-in session presented in a different format can get in touch with Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643 to request this. Those who can't make the live meeting can use the same link after the event to view a recording of the presentation.

Asking a question

Members of the public are asked to submit their questions in advance of the drop-in session by Monday 14th September at 5pm, using the link to the event. As many questions submitted by this time will be answered during the event. Questions submitted after this time or during the event will be answered via a written Q&A document which will be posted on the project website.

Ken Glendinning, Project Director at Homes England said: "We received a good level of engagement from the local community at our May online event, with over 100 members of the public attending and 90 questions asked."

"We hope even more people will be able to join us at our September online event to allow us to keep the community up to date with Northern Arc progress."

For more information contact Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Plans for a new link road connecting the Northern Arc to the A2300 Corridor Improvement Scheme have been approved. Jackson Civil Engineering have been appointed to undertake the works.

Detailed plans approved for new link road connecting the Northern Arc to the A2300 Corridor Improvement Scheme. This will see Homes England commit £6.5 million to the delivery of this piece of key infrastructure and includes a new roundabout. This is of an infrastructure package that ensures key infrastructure is in place and accelerates the delivery of much needed homes including affordable homes. Jackson Civil Engineering have been appointed to undertake the works, who are also delivering West Sussex County Council's A2300 corridor improvements scheme which is progressing well.

The construction of a new road and associated roundabouts together with improved pedestrian and cycle routes to encourage sustainable travel is a step closer as Homes England appoints a contractor to undertake the works, following planning permission being granted in early July. Jackson will start building later this year, as part of an infrastructure package which will support the building of approximately 3,500 new homes with supporting community, employment and retail facilities in Burgess Hill.

This link road to the west of the Northern Arc site is being built at the same time as the link road to the east which will join Isaacs Lane to the construction site at Freeks Farm. Both roads will provide direct access to the site and pave the way for new homes, two new neighbourhood centres and community facilities to be built over the coming years.

Ken Glendinning, Project Director at Homes England said: "This is another major milestone for the project. Homes England's continued investment in key infrastructure for the Northern Arc demonstrates our commitment to supporting the early delivery of new homes and jobs in Burgess Hill by mitigating any traffic pressures and providing better public transport connections for residents."

Andy Nailor, Contracts Manager at Jackson Civil Engineering said: "We are pleased to have been awarded this prestigious contract from Homes England and look forward to delivering a successful scheme which will serve to provide the future expansion of new homes and community facilities in the Burgess Hill area."

Jackson Civil Engineering's role on both the A2300 corridor improvements scheme and the new link road connecting the Northern Arc to the A2300 will allow co-ordinated delivery and help minimise disruption.

ENDS

For more information contact Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tom Hustler, Communications Manager at Homes England on 0113 3949355 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Homes England will sell Bodle Bros Ltd land to ensure business can thrive for future generations.

Homes England, the government agency working with partners to build new homes at the Northern Arc in Burgess Hill, has sold land to Bodle Bros, safeguarding the future of this well used local business.

Bodle's specialises in animal, pet and equestrian supplies and has been trading since the 1830s. Michael and Julie Sandercock, directors of the business, had been renting the land their business occupies. Homes England acquired this land from their landlords as part of the wider plans for the Northern Arc development and has made it available to Bodle Bros with the sale completing on 17th June 2020. This means they can continue to provide a much-needed service to the community in and around Burgess Hill for generations to come.

Michael Sandercock, Managing Director of Bodle Bros said: "Buying this land has meant we have safeguarded our business at our current location where we employ a local workforce. We have worked with Homes England to make this possible and I look forward to offering the same level of service to our loyal customers that we have always provided."

Homes England is working with Mid-Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council and housing development partners to build 3,500 new homes at the Northern Arc, 30% of which will be affordable. Alongside houses there will also be significant investment in roads, schools, healthcare, employment areas, parks and playgrounds making the Northern Arc a successful, thriving community.

Ken Glendinning, Project Director at Homes England said: "Retaining Bodle Bros is a part of our ongoing commitment to support local jobs and businesses in Burgess Hill as we build new homes and infrastructure and create more opportunities for sustainable employment."

ENDS

For more information contact Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Tom Hustler, Communications Manager at Homes England, on 0113 3949355 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On behalf of Homes England, John Sisk & Son Ltd will be carrying out ground investigation work on Isaacs Lane and on land east of Isaacs Lane (see survey area below) to establish ground conditions from the week beginning 18th May through to the end of June.

These works will be undertaken in strict adherence to Government and industry guidance, which includes working at social distance.

From the week beginning 18th May, trial pits and boreholes using small drilling rigs, as well as a radar survey of Isaacs Lane will be undertaken. John Sisk & Son Ltd will be operating between the hours of 8am and 6pm on weekdays and on Saturdays between 8am and 1pm, as required.

From the week beginning 18th May for around two weeks, please note that the surveyor will be working on Isaacs Lane with temporary two-way lights to ensure a safe work area.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. If you have any questions about the surveys or concerns during the survey period, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643. If you would like to speak with John Sisk & Son Ltd, you can contact Pooja Godhania, who is overseeing the surveys, on 07880 026 737.

Thank you to those who were able to join our virtual drop-in session earlier this week. We hope the information provided and questions we were able to answer through the presentation were helpful.

 We had over 100 people join the event and received over 90 questions from members of the public. You can watch the recording of the session here. Due to the number of questions asked, and wanting to reply to all of them in full, we will be uploading a document answering them to this website by 15 May. Please submit additional questions via Teams Live by following this link by the end of the day on 13 May 2020

Countryside Properties

From 11 May for approximately nine weeks, Barkemp Contruction, on behalf of Countryside Properties and West Sussex County Council, will be building a new entrance off Maple Drive to provide the new access road into the Freeks Farm development. A new crossing for pedestrians will also be installed alongside essential works to the mains service network. This is in the playground area near Freeks Lane which is now closed (the new play area Countryside Properties will build will open in autumn 2020). The site team will be adhering to Government and industry guidance as a result of COVID-19, including working at social distance.

Temporary two way traffic lights will be in use on Maple Drive close to Freeks Lane. Working hours will be Monday-Friday between 8am and 5pm, and if required, on some Saturdays between 8am and 1pm.

Any changes to the programme (if caused by bad weather conditions for example) will be communicated via the advance warning signs located at each end of the works. We apologise for any inconvenience caused in advance.

In the event of an emergency, please contact West Sussex Emergency on 01243 642 105 or Barkemp Emergency on 01622 711 690.

Homes England is adhering to Government guidance on Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is supporting Government at this difficult time. Homes England is open for business and continuing to invest in its development pipeline, which will help to give the housing sector some certainty as it rebuilds its capacity.

 At the Northern Arc, all non-essential site activity temporarily paused at the end of March 2020. Only time critical site activity remains underway, including some tree, ecology and land remediation works which are being carried out in line with Government guidance. Additional controls have been put in place to protect both site operatives and the general public. Countryside Properties will resume construction at Freeks Farm as soon as they are able.

More information will be shared shortly on the next community drop-in session which will be held online.

Please get in touch with Sarah Ward on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07776 527 643 if you have any questions or concerns.

Construction at the Northern Arc to begin this Spring

• Construction at Freeks Farm expected to begin this spring
• £7.7 million committed by Homes England as construction expected to begin this spring/summer to deliver a bridge and link road connecting Freeks Farm and Isaacs Lane
• Planning application submitted for new link road connecting the Northern Arc to the A2300 Corridor Improvement Scheme being promoted by West Sussex County Council. This will see Homes England commit £6.5 million to the delivery of this piece of key infrastructure

The construction of the first homes at Freeks Farm, and the supporting bridge and link road which will connect Isaacs Lane to Freeks Farm, is expected to begin this spring following recent planning approvals.

The 460 new homes that Countryside Properties will build at Freeks Farm will include a mix of apartments and homes from one to four bedrooms, including 30% affordable. Public open space and a new play area will also be delivered along with cycle and pedestrian routes connecting the site into the local area.

In the west of the site, a planning application has recently been submitted for a link road and associated roundabouts. This will tie into the A2300 corridor improvements scheme being promoted by West Sussex County Council. Subject to planning consent, work on the link road is expected to start in summer 2020 which will see Homes England commit £6.5 million to this piece of key infrastructure.

Community drop-in session 

To provide an update on progress at the Northern Arc, Homes England is holding the first in a series of informal quarterly drop-in sessions on Tuesday 28 January between 12pm and 2pm in the foyer at The Triangle, Burgess Hill, RH15 8WA. Members of the public will be able to drop-in to speak to the team and ask questions.

Ken Glendinning, Project Director at Homes England said:

""Homes England delivering the first part of the road which will support Countryside Properties beginning building at Freeks Farm, is a major milestone for the development at the Northern Arc. It will ensure our investment in Burgess Hill supports the local community by relieving traffic pressure and providing better connections.

"We hope to welcome those interested in the development along to our informal drop-in session at the end of this month, where we will be happy to provide an update and answer any questions." 

Countryside Properties and Homes England will be commencing pre-development works along Freeks Lane and at Freeks Farm during the week commencing 17th February 2020. 

 The red line indicates the location of the pre-development works.

This will comprise tree management and removal, contamination remediation, landscape mitigation planting and ecology preservation works. These are necessary to facilitate the new development permitted under planning consent DM/18/0509.

Countryside Properties will be undertaking surface improvement works to Freeks Lane at the same time to ensure it remains passable to pedestrians and occasional vehicles in the longer term.

Once the preparatory works are complete, and the new vehicular access is constructed from Maple Drive, no construction vehicles will be permitted to use Freeks Lane and all construction plant will enter and exit the site from the new access.

If you have any concerns before or during the works, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ 07776 527643.

Homes England has released the first in a series of quarterly newsletters to provide an update on the progress of delivery of the Northern Arc.

Development at the Northern Arc is part of the ambitious Burgess Hill Strategic Growth Programme which will transform the local economy by creating thousands of new jobs and homes.

The Northern Arc has been carefully designed to enable modern living within an environmentally sustainable community. In total, it will deliver up to 3,500 new homes (30% affordable), surrounded by approximately 80 hectares of parklands and open spaces.

New community and leisure facilities, primary and secondary schools and employment opportunities will provide vibrant focal points of day-to-day living. These will be connected by pedestrian and cycle networks, easy access to public transport and electric charging points to promote a low carbon energy neighbourhood.

Over the next three years, Homes England expects to invest around £41 million in new pieces of vital infrastructure (a primary and secondary school, roads, open spaces and neighbourhood centres). This infrastructure will enable the building of much needed new homes in Mid Sussex and ensure they are a real benefit to the local community by relieving traffic pressure and providing connections into Burgess Hill and the surrounding area.

Phase One of this multi-million-pound flagship development will be delivered between 2020 and 2025. You can find all the latest information in the Northern Arc Quarterly Newsletter.

Homes England will also be providing regular drop-in sessions to provide an update on progress and answer any questions you may have. The first session is being held on Tuesday 28 January between 12 and 2pm at The Triangle, Triangle Way, Burgess Hill.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643

Mid Sussex District Council is looking at ways to improve sustainable transport infrastructure, reduce congestion and increase connectivity across Burgess Hill.

Burgess Hill will grow significantly over the next 15 years into a modern, thriving town where local people want to live and work. Substantial investment is planned from both the private and public sector that will see the development of around 5,000 new homes, two new business parks, new schools, community hubs and a new town centre.

Mid Sussex District Council is currently working with West Sussex County Council on a Place and Connectivity Programme to deliver significant infrastructure improvements that will help link all these development areas and other key destinations in the town together. A number of town centre projects are currently under consideration including improved access arrangements for Burgess Hill and Wivelsfield train stations, enhanced cycle routes, accessible pedestrian routes and improvements to bus services.

A public engagement programme is scheduled for spring 2020 to find out the views of local people and provide as many people as possible with the opportunity to have their say on the proposed improvements.

Mid Sussex District Council, in partnership with the Local Enterprise Partnership Coast to Capital and West Sussex County Council, has secured £10.9 million from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for the Place and Connectivity programme. The funding supplements the £16.96m already secured from the Local Growth Fund to assist with the upgrading of the A2300.

Councillor Judy Llewellyn-Burke, Mid Sussex District Council Deputy Leader said:

"The growth of Burgess Hill provides us with a tremendous opportunity to look at Burgess Hill as a whole and to carefully assess how we can improve traffic flows and develop more sustainable ways of travelling.

"The focus of our Place and Connectivity programme is currently on gathering the data we will need to make informed decisions. Some infrastructure projects, like our proposed pathway improvements at World's End Recreation ground, can be delivered quickly but most will be delivered gradually over the next few years. Each one is like a small piece in a jigsaw, fitting together and building towards significantly improved transport and travel around the town."

For more information please contact Martin Faulconbridge on 01444 477478 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The construction of 3,000 new homes – 30 percent of which will be affordable – at Burgess Hill in Mid Sussex is a step closer after the Government's housing agency submitted additional planning documents and began the search for a contractor.

 Homes England, which owns the 200-hectare site known as the Northern Arc, has amended plans after listening to comments gathered as part of a consultation exercise. These changes include:

• Minor changes to the details of the application
• Updates to the transport and environmental assessments
• Updates to the design guide

Earlier this month Homes England also submitted a planning application for a bridge and link road – which will connect Isaacs Lane to Freeks Farm in the eastern part of the site – to relieve traffic pressure and support the construction of the new homes. Subject to planning permission being granted, work is expected to start early next year. And – in the west of the site – progress is being made as Homes England seeks a contractor to construct another bridge, link road and roundabouts. Should planning permission be granted for this, work is expected to start in summer 2020.

Ken Glendinning, Head of Strategic Land at Homes England said: "Over the next three years we expect to invest around £41 million in new pieces of vital infrastructure at the Northern Arc which will facilitate the building of much needed new homes in Mid Sussex, make homes happen faster and ensure they are a real benefit to the local community by relieving traffic pressure and providing better connections in this part of Mid Sussex."

The new homes will be built alongside new community facilities including three neighbourhood centres, three new schools and employment opportunities. The development will ensure easy access to public transport and walking and cycling routes.

Mid Sussex District Council is expected to make a decision on the outline planning application – where the scale and nature of the proposed development will be considered – in October 2019. Homes England will then work with developers to submit more detailed applications following further consultation.

For more information contact Sarah Ward on 07776 527 643 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..