Hailsham Medical Centre

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Wealden District Council is committed to delivering a new medical centre for Hailsham.

The need for a new medical centre in Hailsham is evident:

  • 25% of the town's population is over 65, compared to 19% nationally
  • An increase of 23% in primary care patient population by 2032
  • Resident population of the town is expected to increase by 21% due to planned housing growth

Wealden District Council has been working with Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to bring forward the plans for a new medical centre, picking up the slack due to private sector market failure.

Ongoing efforts are underway with the ICB to finalise the footprint requirements for the facility. While the Council has a good idea of what is required, active work continues.

The background

The Council began exploring a town centre regeneration project for Hailsham in 2018 after it purchased Vicarage Fields and became a major landowner in the town. A masterplan included amongst other things leisure, medical, residential and landscaping elements. The project progressed through the usual stages but in 2021 it became evident that the project would be a financial stretch too far for the council and was put on hold.

Efforts were redirected towards the delivery of a new health and leisure hub and the Council sought funding from the government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) to bridge the budget gap. The aim was to secure up to £20 million, which would serve as a catalyst for the wider regeneration programme. Regrettably, the Council was unsuccessful in three separate LUF application rounds in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

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. The Council is committed to facilitating the delivery of a new medical centre for the town for which there is a clear demonstrable and unmet need.

There also remains a strong commitment to enhancing leisure facilities and revitalising the town centre. While this initiative is no longer included in the master plan, progress continues through the commissioning of a leisure review and improvements on Vicarage Lane.

Further information on the Hailsham Aspires project and the challenges it faced, along with specific information about the leisure and medical facilities in the town are available in the 13 March 2024 report to Cabinet.

The Budget

Subject to Cabinet agreeing to formally draw a conclusion to the Hailsham Aspires project, a significant proportion of the budget will be available to allocate to the medical centre.

A report to the necessary council committee will come forward in due course requesting the required additional budget.

The full financial detail and associated information of the project is also available in the 13 March 2024 report to Cabinet.


Wealden District Council is committed to delivering a new medical centre for Hailsham.

The need for a new medical centre in Hailsham is evident:

  • 25% of the town's population is over 65, compared to 19% nationally
  • An increase of 23% in primary care patient population by 2032
  • Resident population of the town is expected to increase by 21% due to planned housing growth

Wealden District Council has been working with Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to bring forward the plans for a new medical centre, picking up the slack due to private sector market failure.

Ongoing efforts are underway with the ICB to finalise the footprint requirements for the facility. While the Council has a good idea of what is required, active work continues.

The background

The Council began exploring a town centre regeneration project for Hailsham in 2018 after it purchased Vicarage Fields and became a major landowner in the town. A masterplan included amongst other things leisure, medical, residential and landscaping elements. The project progressed through the usual stages but in 2021 it became evident that the project would be a financial stretch too far for the council and was put on hold.

Efforts were redirected towards the delivery of a new health and leisure hub and the Council sought funding from the government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) to bridge the budget gap. The aim was to secure up to £20 million, which would serve as a catalyst for the wider regeneration programme. Regrettably, the Council was unsuccessful in three separate LUF application rounds in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

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. The Council is committed to facilitating the delivery of a new medical centre for the town for which there is a clear demonstrable and unmet need.

There also remains a strong commitment to enhancing leisure facilities and revitalising the town centre. While this initiative is no longer included in the master plan, progress continues through the commissioning of a leisure review and improvements on Vicarage Lane.

Further information on the Hailsham Aspires project and the challenges it faced, along with specific information about the leisure and medical facilities in the town are available in the 13 March 2024 report to Cabinet.

The Budget

Subject to Cabinet agreeing to formally draw a conclusion to the Hailsham Aspires project, a significant proportion of the budget will be available to allocate to the medical centre.

A report to the necessary council committee will come forward in due course requesting the required additional budget.

The full financial detail and associated information of the project is also available in the 13 March 2024 report to Cabinet.


Page last updated: 17 Oct 2024, 11:39 AM