Haywards Heath Rugby Football Club is a community rugby union football club, founded in 1958.
The current Haywards Heath RFC clubhouse, located in Cuckfield, West Sussex, is beyond repair and no longer fit for purpose. Limited changing rooms, shower facilities and social space has restricted the expansion of rugby and caused the Clubhouse accessibility issues – particularly for girls and women. Haywards Heath RFC strives to be an inclusive club for all, with a new multi-sports Clubhouse underway, being built at Whitemans Green. A crowdfunding campaign has contributed towards the funding gap and will help ensure the facility to be operational by Autumn 2024. The new Clubhouse promises inclusivity for all and is utilising sustainable solutions.
Pictured: The new Clubhouse going under construction.
A sustainable approach
The new multi-sports Clubhouse will be highly energy efficient having been designed and built on a fabric first basis. Haywards Heath RFC has invested in solar power, underfloor heating over an insulated slab , air source heat pumps as well as thermally efficient cladding and roofing materials. To boost sustainability the plans also include LED lighting, water management systems, and an enhanced recycling system – as well as providing six electric vehicle charging points for use by the public.
The benefits of going green
The new Clubhouse helps the Club create a closer relationship with the local community, driving positive change for multiple sports and community groups. Embracing sustainability helps differentiate Haywards Heath RFC and will attract players across all ages with similar values. Being a highly energy efficient club will save energy, helping to cut carbon and manage long term costs and provide both commercial and environmental sustainability.
Phil Herbert, Commercial Director at Haywards Heath Rugby Football Club said:
“There’s been a lot of goodwill and support from our local council and the local community towards the successful completion of this new building but the drive for the project itself has come from the club. We wanted to create a facility that is inclusive for all, so the girls and ladies could have access to facilities similar to that of the boys and men to play sport. But if you’ve got a blank sheet of paper and you’re building a facility for the community and for all participants, then you’ve got an obligation to make sure it is state-of-the-art and sustainable. Going forward, we’ve got a lease for 99 years taking us to 2124. And if we’re leaving a building sat there, one of the most important considerations is that it must be sustainable – socially, commercially and environmentally. There’s also a lot of pressure from parents whose children (over 500 every weekend) want to do their bit and for the environment and everything to be sustainable. It’s doubly important to future generations so we want everyone to know that we are addressing this as a priority.”