Plans have been approved for a new state-of-the-art Centre for Outdoor Sport in Burgess Hill.

The proposals were given the go-ahead by Mid Sussex District Council.

Situated on an 8.6-hectare block of land within the Brookleigh development, the Centre for Outdoor Sport will provide first-class facilities for the district and would not have been possible without the support from with Homes England. The sports mix, refined over three years through extensive engagement, consultation and data analysis, will complement the district's existing sports infrastructure, offering a variety of sports like football, rugby, and cricket.

The proposed layout includes features such as a floodlit 3G football pitch, an artificial grass rugby pitch, a modern changing facility, three junior natural turf football pitches, a full-sized natural turf football pitch, and an artificial cricket wicket with a turf outfield. Additionally, a fully equipped play area will cater for the younger members of the community, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.

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The Centre for Outdoor Sports and Brookleigh are focused on creating a vibrant community with facilities to support active, healthy lifestyles and access to outdoor space, with over half of Brookleigh dedicated to public open space. Although a small number of trees will be removed for site development at the Centre for Outdoor Sport, the Council and Homes England are committed to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity with a thorough planting plan and ensuring all trees are replaced by their native counterpart. This guarantees a net increase in the number of trees, meets biodiversity goals, and felled trees will be repurposed on-site for ecological benefits including creating new natural habitats. Overall, more than 200,000 new trees and shrubs will be planted as part of the wider Brookleigh development.

Chris Hobbs, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Customer Services, said: "We are really pleased to see the approval of the Centre for Outdoor Sport in Burgess Hill, a facility that will undoubtedly become a cornerstone of community life, and we are eagerly looking forward to commencing the work on this project later this month.

"This achievement marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we extend our gratitude to Homes England for their invaluable partnership. Together, we are working to create an exceptional recreational hub that will enhance the lives of residents and sports enthusiasts both in our local community and also further afield.

"The development of the CFOS is just, however, one piece of the jigsaw of sports provision across the district. We are working with a number of community groups and sports clubs to review what's already in place and to explore new opportunities for improvement."