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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

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

Mid Sussex District Council · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 04:00.

Opportunity overview

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 £1.5m 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.

Classification

  • CPV45212000 — Construction work for buildings relating to leisure, sports, culture, lodging and restaurants
  • CPV48814300 — Theatre management system
  • CPV92000000 — Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-0544be
Status
planning
Above Threshold
Yes
Main Procurement Category
services

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

concession

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Contract period

Ends
27 Feb 2044, 23:59
Starts
28 Feb 2026, 00:00

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKJ28
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
45212000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Construction work for buildings relating to leisure, sports, culture, lodging and restaurants
Entry 2
Id
48814300
Scheme
CPV
Description
Theatre management system
Entry 3
Id
92000000
Scheme
CPV
Description
Recreational, cultural and sporting services

Planning and budget

Documents

Entry 1
Id
030704-2025
Format
text/html
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Published
6 Jun 2025, 16:14

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Status
met
Date Met
14 May 2025, 00:00
Description
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.

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-PPON-PQLR-5948-PBHY
Name
Mid Sussex District Council

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKJ28
Country
GB
Locality
Haywards Heath
Postal Code
RH16 1SS
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Oaklands, Oaklands Road

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Description
Public authority - sub-central government

Identifier

Id
PQLR-5948-PBHY
Scheme
GB-PPON

Contact

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Haywards Heath · UKJ28 · RH16 1SS · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKJ28 · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-0544be-2025-06-06T16:14:36+01:00Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·