Heating plant upgrade at Scaynes Hill Millennium Village Centre, Scaynes Hill
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Mid Sussex Planning Committee on 15 Jan 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed upgrading the heating plant with air source heat pumps and caged outdoor condenser units.
“Site: Scaynes Hill Millennium Village Centre Lewes Road Scaynes Hill Haywards Heath West Sussex…”
“Proposal: Upgrading of heating plant to include installation of air source heat pumps including caged outdoor condenser units…”
Officer report
The site
The community centre is beside a recreation ground, public footpath and neighbouring rear gardens, outside but next to the built-up area.
“LRPC fully support this application to upgrade the heating and ventilation at the Millennium Hall site. Inverter/Condenser units should comply with current Environmental Health Noise restrictions to protect nearby residents’ amenity.”
“The walls are faced brickwork with the apex of the pitched roof being white cladding with aluminium doors and windows 9.2 To the front of building to the south-west is the car park, to the north-east and north- west of the building is the recreation ground, and to the south-east of the building is a public footpath with hedging and close boarded fencing with the rear gardens of neighbouring properties in Lewes Road beyond.”
Officer report
Equipment and its effects
Three condensers and one heat pump would be modest in size, enclosed in protective cages and positioned beside or behind the building.
“The proposed Air Source Heat Pump to the side of the building approximately measures 0.35m in depth, 1m in width with a height of 1.35m 10.5 Each unit will be enclosed in a protective security cage 11.0 Legal Framework and List of Policies 11.1 Using this as the starting point the development plan for this part of Mid Sussex consists of the District Plan, Site Allocations Document and the Lindfield and Lindfield Rural Neighbourhood Plan.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Environmental Health raised no objection subject to the noise report, while the parish council supported the application and requested noise protection.
“Summary of Representations 4.1 A letter of objection has been received from the neighbour at 6 South View, Lewes Road who raised concerns regarding noise. Summary of Consultees Mid Sussex Environmental Health No objection. Recommend that a condition be applied to any permission granted to ensure that plant is installed in accordance with the report from DAA Group dated 28 August 2025.”
Officer report
The committee vote
Members approved the recommendations in the report unanimously.
“The Chairman took Members to a vote on the recommendations contained in the report which were approved unanimously.”
Minutes
The decision
Planning permission was approved subject to the conditions in Appendix A.
“Planning permission was approved subject to the conditions outlined at Appendix A.”
Minutes
Sources
- Mid Sussex Planning Committee minutes, 15 January 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Mid Sussex's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Mid Sussex Planning Committee
- Council
- Mid Sussex
- Date
- Thursday 15 January 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Mid Sussex committee decisions →
This committee's year
12 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.