Press release – May 2020

Award-winning architects Conran and Partners have been appointed by Wealden District Council to lead the design brief for the prestigious Hailsham Aspires project.

The international architecture practice, founded by Sir Terence Conran, also specialises in master planning and interior design, and will manage the project from its Brighton-based studio. Conran and Partners have extensive experience of working in conservation and heritage areas, transforming unused and forgotten sites into desirable places. The practice will be responsible for helping to enhance the quality and variety of residential, retail, leisure and public services provided in the Vicarage Lane area of Hailsham town centre.

Conran and Partners is joined on the Hailsham Aspires design team by environmental engineers Hilson Moran, civil and structural engineers AKT II, planning consultants Lambert Smith Hampton, and community engagement specialists Snapdragon at PLMR. Mott MacDonald, global management, engineering and development consultants, have been appointed to project manage the proposed town centre regeneration scheme. They will co-ordinate the design team and provide development, project and cost management services.

“We are excited to have been able to assemble such a high quality team of specialists to help regenerate this part of Hailsham,” said Councillor Bob Standley, Leader of the Council and chairman of the project sponsor board. “We are impressed with the emphasis our team is placing on collaboration at every stage of the design process. The findings from our recent Hailsham Aspires consultation will now help the design team create a regeneration proposal which will inspire and help secure the future prosperity of the town.”

Project managers Mott MacDonald will be reporting to the Hailsham Aspires sponsor board. This consists of three members of Wealden District Council’s Cabinet, the Hailsham West local ward member on the District Council and the Mayor of Hailsham. The majority of the Vicarage Lane site is owned by Wealden District Council and Hailsham Memorial Institute under the auspices of Hailsham Town Council.

Hilson Moran, environmental engineers in partnership with AKT II, civil and structural engineers, will be responsible for ensuring the development is fully integrated and meets the future needs of the town, including sustainability. Lambert Smith Hampton are one of the UK’s leading property consultancies. Their role on the project is to develop an appropriate planning application for submission towards the end of the year.  Communications specialists Snapdragon will carry out further consultation and engagement as part of the ongoing process to ensure all stakeholders are kept fully involved in the project.

The vision for the Hailsham Aspires project seeks to establish a vibrant activity-based modern market town with a diverse town centre offer. This is likely to include a civic centre hub, leisure facilities and public social spaces providing better connections across the town centre and surrounding areas. These features will attract and hold the attention of residents and visitors, whilst promoting local job creation and long-term sustainability.

As well as improving the retail and leisure offer at Vicarage Field, the project brief will consider:

• Future provision of leisure facilities.
• An enhanced public sector hub with improved co-working opportunities.
• Improved relocated health care facilities.
• New homes in the town centre to meet a range of local housing needs.
• Relocation and improvement of facilities for the Hailsham Club and Charles Hunt Centre.
• Consolidation of car parking arrangements.
• Energy-efficient new buildings, sustainable infrastructure and clean energy options to support the Council’s Climate Change commitments.