Wealden council leaders could be set to ‘formally conclude’ Hailsham Aspires — a long-awaited town centre regeneration project now considered to be “unaffordable”.
On Wednesday (March 13), Wealden District Council’s cabinet are due to decide whether to “formally bring the Hailsham Aspires project to a conclusion” and reassign its funding to the delivery of a new medical centre in the town.
When first announced in January 2019, the project was described by the council as a ‘once in a generation opportunity’, which would regenerate Hailsham town centre and the council-owned Vicarage Field Shopping Centre.
The project, then expected to cost around £100m, was initially set to include: a new and improved shopping centre; a multi-storey car park; new council offices; a new leisure centre; and up to 280 apartments and townhouses aimed at younger buyers
Elements of these initial proposals were later dropped, but the council had repeatedly sought Levelling Up Fund monies to proceed with the first phase of the project; a combined medical and leisure centre to replace the existing Freedom Leisure centre in Vicarage Field.
A report to cabinet reads: “Regrettably, the council was unsuccessful in three separate Levelling Up Fund application rounds in 2021, 2022 and 2023. As a result, the ambitious £50 million Aspires project encountered a shortfall of approximately £19 million, including 3.2 per cent professional fee costs.
“Given these affordability constraints, it was necessary to postpone the Hailsham Aspires Project. Furthermore, all avenues to secure external grant funding, which could unlock the project, have been exhausted.”
The report adds: “Wealden District Council has long held the aspiration to deliver improvements to the town centre in Hailsham. Unfortunately, external economic factors and lack of available funding have forced the council to reconsider what can realistically be achieved in the town with the finances available.”
These external economic factors, officers said, include increased rates of inflation and rising building costs. Officers say the scheme is now considered to be “unaffordable”, as a result..
In light of this, officers are recommending cabinet members agree to ‘formally conclude’ the project, effectively cancelling the ambitious regeneration scheme.
If this was agreed, officers say the council would be able to reallocate almost £12m (including £5m of Community Infrastructure Levy monies) towards the construction of a new medical centre in the town.
The report notes that this figure would not be enough to fully fund such a construction project, but says a standalone medical centre “is much more deliverable than the wider regeneration project”.
