MSDC - Cultural Operator for the redevelopment and operation of the Clair Hall Site in Perrymount Road Haywards Heath

Description

The Council is seeking the appointment of a cultural operator for the redevelopment and ongoing operation of the site known as the ‘Clair Hall’ (the Site). The Council’s ambition is to create a vibrant and inclusive creative cultural hub in the centre of Haywards Heath. The venue will be one that welcomes all communities and provides inspiration through film, art and performance.  
The Site has development potential (as further explained in the Information Memorandum). The Council’s objective is to ultimately develop a new cultural facility (yet to be constructed) on part of the Site, with the remaining area to be redeveloped for other uses (such as residential). This follows the decision by the Council’s Cabinet on 8th March 2025 to proceed with the recommendation that “the Clair Hall site be regenerated by way of a mixed-use development to provide a new cultural facility, funded through the land value”. 
On that basis, the Council is seeking to appoint a cultural operator to support the Council during a design and development period with a view to ultimately leasing and operating the cultural facility. 
Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) has been undertaken by the Council and its advisors, the findings of which have informed the procurement for this Opportunity. The PME included building on a market engagement exercise undertaken in 2023 by way of engaging with industry specialists and arts / cinema operators (ranging from premium operators through to small independent operators) to explore the interest in the Opportunity, the market knowledge and the likely conditions for participation and contractual / commercial terms. 
Further detail on the market engagement exercise is set out in the Preliminary Engagement Notice issued by the Council on 06 June 2025. 
The 'total value (estimate; inclusive of VAT)' stated in this notice is an estimate based on market information and industry standards with an assumption of £1.5m turnover and 100,000 ticket sales per annum over an estimated lease period of 15 years. 
The 'total value (estimate; exclusive of VAT)' stated in this notice has been calculated by removing VAT valued at 20% from the previous figure.