Relocation to mid Sussex

[putneySW15]

Hi,

We are relocating to mid sussex (I know it well as grew up in West Sussex and my sis and family live in Hassocks). We have also got the kids places at Hurst/ Ardingly Schools which we're happy about. Commutability to London and Brighton as well as access to countryside all tick our boxes.

We have accepted an offer on our Putney house and have found a house we like in Haywards Heath. It is however a gorgeous house and good value but I'm looking for some reassurance on Haywards Heath as an area (specifically it's near the hospital) but feels very suburban, or are we better off going for a "project" house but in a more rural/ villagey location such as College Lane in Hurstpierpoint. The size and spec of the HH house in more villagey locations would be out of our price range.
Thoughts welcome!

Watching with interest as HH is also an area we’re looking at!

I know HH. It’s convenient and has good facilities. Personally I think the most sought after location is the west side near the station. There is quite a bit of new build near the hospital so check where, if you don’t want it next door!

I live in a village in Mid Sussex and love the rural side to Sussex living. We walk and cycle for miles. We moved from SW London.

In post Covid times, will you both be commuting every day? Will one child be at Ardingly and the other at Hurst?

If I were you I would go for the Hurstpierpoint House, it’s an awesome village with a great vibe. HH, whilst functional is simply a very nice commuter town. You could be moving any where!

Thanks. Without being road specific it’s a little east of Victoria Park (walking distance). Victorian semis so thankfully not close to any new builds! Feels quite suburban but hope there’s stuff to do super locally??

The children will go to the same school. We just haven’t picked which yet! And only one of us commuting a handful of times a week. We just get a far superior house in HH than we do in Hurst! Doesn’t feel like a huge compromise on area unless I’m missing something?? (It’s a 5 min drive to Ditchling Common car park for example)

Depends what you want. Traditionally the posh peeps live in cuckfield and lindfield, which are both pretty active and tight-knit communities. If you want to wander out and chat to people you know then village life is preferable to HH. If you like town-life and the anonymity that goes with it then HH is a good choice. The people I know with kids in private schools don't tend to mix so much in the local community anyway because they have their own different networks that aren't based around the local schools.

As for Hurst... far more people moving up from Brighton which gives it more of a crusty hippy vibe than the villages near HH. I like it a lot - it'd be my choice if I were starting again.