Decision details

Homes England has secured outline planning permission for a new 3500 home development on land known as Brookleigh, Burgess Hill.  As part of the plan, a site for a new secondary school, known as Bedelands Academy, has been provided to ensure sufficient secondary school places to serve the development. A financial contribution of £18.159m has been secured through Section 106 agreements to contribute towards the construction costs of the new school.  An academy sponsor for the new school has been confirmed.

Secondary school places in the Burgess Hill area are already under pressure, with local secondary schools having agreed to take additional pupils through bulge classes.

The need for additional pupil places is predicted to grow year on year and an additional 120 places are required from September 2026 onwards, with additional places being required every year thereafter for the foreseeable future.

Following design development and delays in progressing the project an uplift to the approved budget is now required to progress the delivery of the scheme. The proposed date for completion is for the school to open in September 2027.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills has approved:

(1)That an additional £16.94m is identified for the delivery of the new Secondary School at Brookleigh, Burgess Hill.

(2)That the procurement process for the appointment of a construction partner proceed with a view to a decision on letting the contract in August 2024

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