Taking the Office to Nature

Spithurst Hub is a co-working space which cuts out the commute and provides a sustainable working environment for dozens of local people. 

The Hub has been purpose built on the site of disused farm buildings near Barcombe, in East Sussex.   

Since it opened in 2017, it has quickly developed into a working community of more than 50 people including authors, barristers, engineers, festival organisers and gin distillers.  

The idea for the workspace came about when Nigel and Maria Greenwood, who own local business So Sussex, started looking for a home for their growing staff. They quickly teamed up with Nick and Harriet Lear who were keen to find a good use for their derelict site. 

The project was supported with funding from the Action in Rural Sussex LEADER programme, East Sussex County Council and Brighton University.  

‘We have tried to make it as sustainable as possible within our means,’ say the Greenwoods. ‘Great effort was made to ensure our building would fit in with, as well as enhance, the surrounding rural landscape.’  

‘We also wanted to make sure the flow between the indoor and the outdoor environment was as smooth as possible to ensure our co-workers had easy access to the natural landscape around The Hub.’   

The Hub’s co-owners grow their own food to serve in The Hub’s restaurant and have worked hard to enhance the wildlife around the site – installing a large pond and choosing bee and butterfly friendly plants for the garden.