LEADING homegrown businesses have threatened to desert Sussex if proposals for a multimillion-pound regional distribution centre and business park are rejected.

Scores of businesses, including Pets Corner and Dark Star Brewing Company, are desperate to take on freehold space at a proposed development near the A23 at Hickstead.

But developers fear Mid Sussex District Council could reject the application because it is too far from the commercial cluster of Burgess Hill and would be a blight on the landscape.

Pets Corner, founded in Haywards Heath and now headquartered in Crawley, and Dark Star, founded in Brighton and now near Henfield, employ a combined 150 people. But both said they will have no choice but to relocate outside Sussex if the application is refused due to a lack of suitable space.

The developer estimates the outline scheme at Northlands Farm would generate 200 to 325 construction jobs over two years, 775 to 995 jobs when finished and add £16 million to the local economy. The centre would create £2 million in business rates with £1 million to be retained by Mid Sussex District Council.

The site is not within the national park, green belt or area of outstanding beauty, and already has permission for large-scale agricultural warehousing. Despite no formal marketing taking place, 17 businesses have already enquired about freehold opportunities.

Pets Corner said it “urgently” needs a new home of up to 60,000sqft and Northlands Farm “fits the bill perfectly”.

Managing director Dean Richmond said: “If it doesn’t happen we will have to move, most probably into the M4 corridor. “If the application goes through we will build a headquarters that would represent one of the outstanding examples of sustainable and eco-friendly construction and become a home to over 100 and existing and newly-recruited staff.”

He added: Having to leave our natural Mid Sussex base would be an awful wrench for everyone at Pets Corner, not least our staff who live locally, but we are approaching a time when we may have to think the unthinkable.”

Dark Star said a 30,000sqft space at Northlands “could not be better suited” to its needs.

Paul Reed, Dark Star managing director, said: “Like other Sussex brewers we are committed to staying local for many reasons both local and commercial. “We are so enthusiastic about this development that we have not seriously progressed any other options. But if this doesn’t work we are likely to move to maintain the good road links but unfortunately away from the area where we are best known.”

Andrew Ransome, of Plainview Planning, said: “All the evidence points to an acute need for increased employment land in Mid Sussex that offers freehold possession and sits adjacent to the A23 corridor.

“If successful this application will represent a landmark moment in the long-term commercial prosperity of Mid Sussex, securing employment for hundreds of local residents and the viability of local businesses.”