Planning

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

MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Jun 2025 at 15:14

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Mid Sussex District Council is in the planning phase of a procurement process to appoint a cultural operator for the redevelopment of the Clair Hall Site in Haywards Heath, UK. The council is seeking a partnership to establish a new cultural facility while redeveloping the remaining area of the site for mixed-use purposes. Market engagement activities carried out in 2023 informed the council's approach and set expectations for the facility, including a potential independent cinema. The tender is expected to be published by mid-June 2025, with the contract period starting from February 2026 to February 2044. The procurement, classified under recreational, cultural, and sporting services, aligns with the sector for the construction of leisure-related buildings and theatre management systems, offering potential business opportunities for entities specialising in these areas.

This tender represents an excellent opportunity for businesses involved in cultural operations, arts management, or construction of leisure facilities to collaborate with a public authority to create a landmark cultural venue. The council's openness to industry feedback during the market engagement phase indicates a potentially collaborative approach that could accommodate innovative solutions and customised offerings. Companies with expertise in cinema operations, multi-art form facilities, or those capable of managing large-scale cultural projects would be well-suited to compete, tapping into the estimated £1.5m annual turnover and 100,000 ticket sales per annum potential. Furthermore, the forecasted contract value, inclusive of VAT, highlights significant scope for business growth across a 15-year lease period.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

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

Notice Description

Mid Sussex District Council wish to appoint a Cultural Operator to enter into a collaboration agreement for the redevelopment and potential operation of a new cultural facility. The former Clair Hall site has development potential, and the contracting authority'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. 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 contracting authority is seeking to appoint a cultural operator to support the contracting authority during the design and development period (and procurement of a developer to deliver the "warm shell" of the cultural facility) with a view to ultimately leasing and operating the cultural facility. 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 PS1.5m 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.

Planning Information

In 2023 the contracting authority engaged advisers to undertake a comprehensive market engagement exercise. They sought to engage widely, including with sector analysts and national bodies, to test the resilience and status of the cultural operator sector. They established the level of interest in the site and the key parameters for a cultural facility. Report findings recommended a multi-purpose facility anchored by an independent cinema. To further build on the work undertaken in 2023, further market testing was carried out with industry specialists and arts and cinema operators. A brochure was developed which was sent out to 24 operators/firms in the industry, made up of a mix of multi-art form/industry specialists, industry bodies and cinema operators, ranging from premium operators through to small independent operators. The brochure was used to provide context and to help facilitate more detailed follow-up conversations with the specialists and operators. The brochure's purpose and the responses received (plus conversations held) were used to help develop the contracting authority's requirements and approach to the procurement (including the procedure and likely conditions for participating and award of a contract), identify suppliers able to meet the requirements of the contracting authority, identify likely contractual terms, and establish market knowledge of and interest in the opportunity. The findings of the market testing have informed the contracting authority's subsequent decisions. Steps were taken and will continue to be taken to ensure that suppliers engaged in this market testing are not put at an unfair advantage in any competition in relation to a contract award to be carried out. It is the contracting authority's intention to publish a tender mid-June 2025.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0544be
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030704-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

48 - Software package and information systems

92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

CPV Codes

45212000 - Construction work for buildings relating to leisure, sports, culture, lodging and restaurants

48814300 - Theatre management system

92000000 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£18,750,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Jun 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Feb 2026 - 27 Feb 2044 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MID SUSSEX DISTRICT COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
HAYWARDS HEATH
Postcode
RH16 1SS
Post Town
Redhill
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ28 West Sussex (North East)
Delivery Location
TLJ28 West Sussex (North East)
Local Authority
Mid Sussex
Electoral Ward
Haywards Heath Lucastes & Bolnore
Westminster Constituency
Mid Sussex

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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