Changing Facilities at the Centre for Outdoor Sports at Burgess Hill

This sports pavilion with changing rooms is a key element of the new community facilities, officially named The Arc, being developed by Homes England within Brookleigh at Burgess Hill. The new Centre for Outdoor Sports has been delivered by Mid Sussex District Council and their development partner Alliance Leisure, procured via the UK Leisure Framework (managed by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd). The wider project team also included The Sports Consultancy, AtkinsRealis, Hadron Consulting, S&C Slatters and White Horse Contracting.

The Brief

The ambition behind The Arc was to design and build an inclusive, future-focused sports hub that promotes health, wellbeing and community connection. As part of the wider £1.2 billion Brookleigh masterplan – which will deliver 3,500 homes, public spaces and community infrastructure – the project represents a significant investment in creating sustainable, vibrant neighbourhoods in Mid Sussex.

The outdoor sporting facility has been funded in part through developer contributions (Section 106), ensuring that the new community centre is directly supported by local development, building meaningful connections with the community and a sense of shared ownership from the very beginning.

The Site

Situated on an 8.6-hectare site within the Brookleigh development, The Arc has been carefully designed to integrate with the surrounding landscape, creating a natural extension of the community. The development provides:

• A floodlit artificial football pitch
• A floodlit artificial rugby pitch
• Three junior natural turf football pitches and one full-sized pitch
• An artificial cricket wicket with turf outfield
• A modern changing facility, car park, landscaping, and play area

Managed and operated by Places Leisure, who also operate the nearby Triangle Leisure Centre, The Arc provides a first-class outdoor sports destination for Burgess Hill and the wider Mid Sussex community. The design process evolved over three years of community consultation and data analysis to ensure the final scheme reflects local needs and priorities.

The Solution

At the heart of The Arc lies a timber frame changing pavilion, designed and built by TG Escapes using sustainable modular construction methods.

The pavilion includes:

• Four Sport England compliant changing rooms with benches and kit hooks
• Officials’ changing facilities
• Accessible WCs
• Kit stores and reception area
• CCTV, security shutters and reception desk

Constructed using modern methods of construction, the building combines speed of delivery with long-term environmental performance. Its design creates a warm and welcoming environment, with natural materials, high insulation values and excellent energy efficiency.TG Escapes’ off-site modular approach allowed rapid assembly onsite while maintaining the highest levels of craftsmanship and quality assurance, ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding development and local environment.

The changing facility utilises a timber frame system, eco-friendly materials and cutting-edge technology to create a warm, inviting space that seamlessly integrates with the natural surroundings. This timber frame system is designed to perform reliably in demanding environments.

• The overall wall make-up provides a robust, high-performing envelope: a structural timber frame forms the core, sheathed with OSB3 board for rigidity, then wrapped in a breathable membrane and cavity to prevent moisture ingress.
• The external timber cladding provides durability and impact resistance.
• Internal linings include additional ply lining, plasterboard, and insulation layers, ensuring fire protection, acoustic control, and thermal comfort.

This multi-layered approach ensures the system not only meets but exceeds building regulations, giving long-term resilience against heavy footfall and frequent use while offering a sustainable, warm, and attractive facility.

Sustainability and Design Features

Sustainability has been embedded in The Arc from the outset, aligning with Homes England’s vision for Brookleigh as a model of modern, low-carbon community development. The Centre for Outdoor Sport has excellent sustainability credentials including health and wellbeing, energy use (including the use of energy from renewable sources), transport, water use, materials, waste, land use & ecology and pollution, in keeping with the requirements of the Building Regulations, local Planning Policies and the ‘Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green’ principles of energy hierarchy with a priority given to energy reduction and efficiency.

Key sustainable pavilion design features include:

• Timber frame modular construction, reducing embodied carbon and enabling full recyclability.
• Piled foundation system with a beam and block floor.
• High-performance insulation and natural ventilation to reduce energy demand.
• Solar PV and air source heat pumps, providing renewable energy for heating and lighting.
• Air source water heaters
• Natural finishes and biophilic detailing, connecting the building to its green surroundings.
• Low-maintenance materials extend the building’s lifespan while minimising future resource use.

This approach aligns with Mid Sussex District Council’s sustainability commitments and the Let’s Go Zero ethos, ensuring the new facility operates efficiently and comfortably for years to come.

Graham Hyslop, Director of Projects (Large Sites) at Homes England, said, “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we’re pleased to be working in partnership with Mid Sussex District Council on the Brookleigh development, a sustainable new community in Mid Sussex. The Arc plays a vital role in this, as a new state-of-the-art sports centre to be enjoyed by the local community.”

 Outcome

The Arc stands as a flagship example of how modern, sustainable design can bring people together through sport and community activity.

The project demonstrates what’s possible when local authorities, developers, and delivery partners collaborate to create long-term social value. It provides high-quality facilities for current and future residents, supports healthier lifestyles, and enhances Burgess Hill’s sporting infrastructure.

TG Escapes’ delivery of a low-energy timber frame pavilion embodies the environmental and social principles that underpin the wider Brookleigh development. The result is a welcoming, accessible and energy-efficient community building that sets a benchmark for future leisure and recreation projects across the UK.