Town kept Growing

In the past decade, Burgess Hill has been described as the fastest growing town in Europe.

At the turn of the century, the population of 5,000 was spread throughout the town in ribbon-like development.

In 1912, Burgess Hill was described as a “pretty town of the type that is marking the development of Sussex as a residential county, a perfect specimen of the urban domestic amid rural surroundings – almost to ‘Garden City’ in itself”. (Burgess Hill, Its History and Guide).

Even in 1912, fears of development were growing: “Every year, London is stepping nearer to the sea; every year Brighton becomes nearer to the Metropolis”.

Burgess Hill was described as one of the “stepping stone” towns, springing up along the route of the London and Brighton railway.

The boundaries of the town were defined as: “Roughly speaking, bounded on the North by Leylands Road, on the south by Keymer Road and Junction Road, on the west by London Road.”

Bob Steer, of Nightingale Lane remembers the town in the late 1920s.

His family moved into the newly built council houses in Norman Road in 1927.

Developments in the town were few – between Norman Road and Station Road was waste ground. “We used to play football in the roads,” Bob said.

He remembers the town being physically divided by the railway line.

Around the railway, particularly the Silverdale Road area, “was like a different world” to the rest of Burgess Hill.

The large Victorian and Edwardian houses in this part of the town, now conservation area, were still considered in 1992 Local Plan as being somewhat different from the rest: “The particular character of the Silverdale Road and Birchwood Grove area distinguishes it from other parts of Burgess Hill.”

Bob said he had seen many changes in the town centre, but some of the same names remain today.

Shops in Church Road included Woods the utcher, Hamptons Furnishers (now in Church Walk) and Anthony Hole and Sons (which moved around the corner to Cyprus Road).

The council occupied the building is now used by Lloyds Bank, and behind these was the fire station.

There were many more shops in Lower Church Road – most have been now converted into houses.

Inter-war growth was relatively modest compared to Haywards Heath, but following World War II, the town was earmarked for London overspill housing.

The population of Burgess Hill in 1951 stood at 8,250, The figure more than doubled in the next 20 years. The boundaries of the town stretched further south when the Chanctonbury Road estate was built.

This area was previously used by London Road School in the early part of the century for nature lessons and Bob still remembers fields full of “cowslips, bluebells, cattle, mushrooms and ponds.”

Rapid house building in the 60s and 70s included development of Folders Lane in Leyland Road.

In 1971, the population of the town leapt to 19,390 – with further developments still springing up throughout the town.

In 1972, a report by East Sussex County Council about short term housing land requirements, highlighted growing concern about increased building in the town.

“Because of overcrowding at peak hours on the London business trains, the policy in respect of residential development should be a restrictive one and that after providing for general local housing needs, for the implementation of outstanding planning permissions and for development within the confines of the existing built-up areas, no provision should be made in the town map for further peripheral development of Burgess Hill.”

Despite these concerns, Burgess Hill was again identified as an area for possible development in 1977.

The strategic plan for the south east identified Burgess Hill, alongside Haywards Heath and Crawley as “having potential for substantial growth.”

Again, Burgess Hill was earmarked for overspill housing – this time as a result of new jobs created in the south east particularly in Gatwick and Crawley.

The plan states: “Linkages envisaged would include arrangements whereby part of the local industrial growth and associated housing which cannot be catered for in the study area in accordance with the strategy may have a claim for accommodation in the Mid Sussex area.”

The town expanded to the north in the 80s, with developments at Sheddingdean and further west at West End farm. In 1981, the population stood at 23,587.

In the late 80s, Burgess Hill lost a residential road to make way for the new shopping centre.

Clifton Road was flattened along with the original side of the market to make way for the new Market Place Shopping Centre in 1991.

The uptake for units in the new centre was painfully slow – few shops moved into the new centre during its formative years.

By 1991, Burgess Hill was home to 25,500 people.

During the 90s the town expanded further to the Southwest at Hammonds Farm within the curve of the A 273 western distributor Road.

Similar complaints to those mentioned in 1972 were raised in 1992 local plan discussions

“Mid Sussex towns and large villages have grown rapidly and the provision of amenities and infrastructure has generally speaking not kept pace with this expansion.”

The expansion of the town has led to a lack of green space.

In 1912 Burgess Hill was described as: “Full of open spaces and surrounded by belts of the most charming open country that for centuries yet, will not be closed in by the march of bricks and mortar.”

The lack of green space in the town was acknowledged by the 1992 plan.

The Plan described Burgess Hill as “one of the fastest-growing towns in West Sussex over the last 30 years.”

Acknowledgements:

Environmental capacity in West Sussex, June 1996, WSCC.

Short Term Housing Land Requirements 1972,  East Sussex County Council.

Burgess Hill Short Term Land Requirements 1977

Local plan 1982

Local plan 1992

Burgess Hill: Its History and Guide Barrett and Co 1912.