£10m green Haywards Heath residential scheme breaks ground

By Sam Pither

9 January 2023

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Sigma Homes, the Horsham-based real estate developer, has commenced construction on a 20-home, £10 million eco-focused development on the outskirts of Haywards Heath in West Sussex.

Once complete, the site – dubbed “Spring Bank” – will feature 19 homes and one apartment with a 30 per cent affordable allocation. This will consist of 13 three-bedroom houses, three four-bedroom houses, three two-bedroom houses, and a one-bedroom apartment, with the first occupations expected later this year.

The 3.1-acre site on land at Rogers Farm, Fox Hill is situated to the south of Haywards Heath – a popular location for commuters due to its strong links with both London and Brighton.

Geoff Potton, Chief Executive at Sigma Homes, said: “We have worked for two years on the planning and meticulous pre-construction preparation for this scheme and we are thrilled to now be on site, breaking ground. Spring Bank enjoys an exceptional location, supported by Haywards Heath’s wide range of amenities, which are fully accessible by active and sustainable forms of travel.

“Set within a beautiful landscape, our development will maintain and enhance the natural environment. Our plans will provide a mature landscape setting from day one and maintain the area’s historic field patterns and wooded character.

“This landscape–led design approach will ensure a sensitive transition can be successfully established between the settlement edge and wider rural setting to the south.”

Mid Sussex District Council granted approval for Sigma Homes' Spring Bank development in September 2022, in line with the site’s designation for residential use in the Mid Sussex Local Plan's Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD), which was adopted by the Council in June 2022. The DPD identified enough housing sites to meet the area's needs until 2031.

Already surrounded by a variety of mature trees and hedgerows, new mixed species native hedgerow, hedgerow trees, and substantial native shrub planting will be carried out to create a natural boundary with an adjacent existing development.

All the new dwellings will be fitted with air source heat pumps, electric car charging points and insulation to achieve an EPC-A or high B rating. The site has also been designed with walkability in mind, with pedestrian and cycle routes integrating with existing public transport and a layout developed to encourage low vehicle speeds with pedestrians and cyclists given priority.

Sigma Homes is also ensuring the landscaping of the new residential site is in tune with ecological considerations. Woodland, hedgerows, and areas of dense scrub will be maintained and enhanced to provide habitats suitable for a range of protected species, including breeding birds, bats, hazel dormice, and reptiles.

Featured image: (L-R) Chris East, Tony Kenny, Geoff Potton, and Katie Macfie – all from Sigma Homes – at the Spring Bank development site.

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.