Town Council Invests CIL Funds in Major Hailsham Community Asset

Hailsham Town Council has recently completed the purchase of 70 South Road for £1.45 million, using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to secure a substantial site with significant potential for future community and Council use.

The purchase of the site, formerly occupied by Jewson Builders Merchants, represents a major investment in Hailsham’s future, providing the Town Council with a sizeable collection of buildings and outdoor space which will be adapted over time to support a wide range of services, facilities and activities for residents.

Importantly, the acquisition has been funded through the Town Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocation, rather than through the council tax or by placing an additional financial burden on local taxpayers. Following the purchase, the Town Council retains a healthy CIL budget for further investment in infrastructure and community priorities.

The Council has established a working group to examine the potential uses of the site, and assess the condition and suitability of the various buildings. Working with partners including but not restricted to the Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce, Hailsham Forward, Hailsham Festival and Hailsham Active, the working group will consider opportunities to generate income which will contribute towards the long-term sustainability of the facilities.

For residents, the development of these facilities will provide greater access to affordable, flexible spaces for sport, recreation, learning, community activities and local organisations, helping to support healthier lifestyles, social connection and participation across Hailsham. Bringing a range of activities together on one site could also create opportunities for new groups, clubs and initiatives to develop, while providing facilities that can respond to changing community needs over the longer term.

Among the potential uses currently being explored are community meeting and activity spaces, as well as indoor sports provision. Buildings could potentially be developed into flexible community facilities, including a performing arts studio, meeting room, classroom or gym space.

The larger hall offers particularly significant potential for indoor physical and community activities, with possibilities including five-a-side football, badminton, basketball, cricket nets, padel and martial arts, alongside other sporting, recreational and community events.

The Council will also explore opportunities to attract external funding towards the development of the site, including potential government sport and leisure funding streams, community grants and other sources of investment.

Town Clerk John Harrison said: “The acquisition of 70 South Road is a significant strategic investment for Hailsham Town Council. We have used CIL funding specifically intended to support infrastructure and community needs to secure an asset which gives us considerable options for the future.”

“The purchase price of £1.45 million represents good value when considered against the scale of the site, the number of buildings involved and the range of potential uses. Crucially, we have been able to make this investment while retaining a healthy CIL budget for other priorities.”

“The site will not be transformed overnight. There will be further expenditure and work required over the coming years, and we will approach that in a planned and financially responsible way, identifying opportunities to combine CIL investment with external grants and other funding wherever possible.”

Councillor Dave Chapman, Chair of the Assets Management Committee, said: “This is a major opportunity for the Town Council to secure an important asset in a central location and use it for the benefit of residents for many years to come. We have acquired a substantial site with buildings and outdoor space which could accommodate a remarkably diverse range of activities.”

“The priority now is to properly assess each part of the site and establish where investment will deliver the greatest benefit. We want to develop a long-term plan that makes the best possible use of the property, while ensuring that it remains financially sustainable.”

Councillor Barry Carpenter, who proposed the motion to purchase the property at a meeting of the Town Council, said: “I believe the purchase of 70 South Road is an important step towards giving Hailsham greater control over its own future. The Town Council had an opportunity to use its CIL resources to acquire a substantial site which will provide facilities that our community needs for many years to come.”

“There is considerable scope here, from sports and recreation to community activities, storage and operational facilities. It is an investment in infrastructure that can grow and evolve as Hailsham’s needs change, and I am pleased that the Council supported the decision to proceed.”

Councillor Chris Bryant, Mayor of Hailsham, said: “This purchase gives Hailsham something extremely valuable: options. Rather than being limited by the facilities we have today, the Council now has an opportunity to shape a site around the needs of future generations.”

“There is enormous potential for residents, community groups, sports organisations and local activities. I am particularly pleased that the purchase has been made using CIL funds, allowing us to invest in a long-term community asset without relying on additional Council Tax funding for the acquisition itself.”

“The challenge now is to make sure we realise that potential responsibly and ensure the site becomes a genuine asset for the whole community.”

Tony Lee, Operations and Facilities Manager, said: “From an operational perspective, 70 South Road could make a significant difference to the way the Town Council manages its equipment, vehicles, storage and works team facilities. Having a dedicated site with appropriate welfare and workshop space would give us much greater flexibility.”

“There is also the possibility of bringing a number of currently dispersed storage and operational functions together, which could make better use of the Council’s existing assets. At the same time, the larger buildings offer exciting possibilities for community and sporting use, subject to the necessary assessments and investment.”

The Town Council recognises that bringing the site to its full potential will be a long-term project, with further investment required over the coming years. Any future development will be subject to detailed feasibility work, appropriate approvals and the availability of funding.

The Council will investigate opportunities to combine CIL funding with external grants and other sources of investment, including potential government funding associated with sport and leisure development.

The outdoor and yard areas also offer scope for future development, including the possible installation of additional facilities or buildings should these be demonstrated to meet community needs and provide value for money.

The Council’s working group will consider the various options for the site, including potential community benefits, operational requirements, capital costs and opportunities to establish sustainable income streams. Facilities which can be hired by community groups, sports organisations and other users could potentially generate an annual income for the Council, helping to offset future running and maintenance costs.

The acquisition also provides an opportunity to ensure that Hailsham has a portfolio of community facilities capable of adapting to changing local needs. In the context of potential wider changes to local government and the future organisation of public services, the Council believes that securing and developing assets within the town could help provide greater resilience and ensure facilities remain at the heart of the community.

Councillor Chapman added: “We should see this as the beginning of the process rather than the end. The Council has secured the asset; now we need to work carefully with residents, community organisations and potential partners to determine how it can deliver the greatest long-term benefit.”

“There is the potential to create facilities that are genuinely useful to the community while also generating income to help support their continued operation. That combination of community value and financial sustainability will be central to our approach.”

The Town Council will provide further information as plans for the site develop and the working group completes its assessment of the available options.