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New owner for former magistrates’ court
The sale of the former Magistrates’ Court in Bolnore Road, Haywards Heath could be one step closer.
In December 2010 the Government announced it was to close 93 magistrates’ courts and 49 county courts in England and Wales, including Haywards Heath County Court and Mid Sussex Magistrates’ Court.
The two-storey detached building was described in the property details as a ‘conversion opportunity/freehold development site’.
The building is 17,900 sqft with a site area of 0.825 acres.
Jones Long LaSalle, who was handling the sale, was inviting offers in excess of £1.1million.
Bids were being accepted up until December 14, of last year.
William Chambers, from Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “Following a successful marketing campaign we are in on-going discussions with a preferred party and we would hope to confirm the purchaser in the forthcoming months.”
In December 2011 the Middy reported how the court could house a new ‘free school’.
The Department of Education had said the courthouse in Haywards Heath was one of six in the country identified as suitable to house a free school, run by local people with Government funding.
It added that groups could apply to open schools in the Government buildings that were surplus or under-used such as Mid Sussex Magistrates’ Court.
In January the Department of Education released a list detailing the free schools that will open in the next few years across the UK with no mention of a free school in Mid Sussex.
At the time of going to press it was unclear as to what will happen to the building and who the new owner is.
Haywards Heath County Court closed in 2012, with the matters previously dealt with there moving to Horsham, Reigate, Tunbridge Wells and Brighton County Courts.
In the same week it announced the courts were to be closed, the Ministry of Justice also announced that the Civil Business Centre based in Haywards Heath would be moved to Salford near Manchester.
A spokesperson for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said at the time: “The lease on Haywards Heath has now expired and HMCTS has decided to close the centre and move the work to Salford, which will further increase efficiency.”
It was thought that the closures would save £130,000 a year.
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Weather for Haywards Heath
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
