Lewes Community Land Trust has submitted a challenge to the Local Plan along the following lines...

The CLT proposes that in order to make the Local Plan sound it should be changed to:

(i) Properly and objectively assess the impact of the loss of allocated industrial land at Eastside, Newhaven, the proposed mixed-use redevelopment of North Street and the development of the much smaller Malling Brooks East site, to demonstrate whether or not there will remain sufficient identified sites to meet the forecast demand.

(ii) Take into account the current use of the North Street site as documented by the attached survey, summary and map in order to make proper provision for the valuable social and economic land uses that currently exist on the site.

(iii) Explicitly include the requirement for the reprovision of the current light industrial (Class B1c) use in any redevelopment of the North Street site rather than, as currently proposed, leaving it to the developer’s masterplanning process – the latter approach does not meet the NPPF tests which require that clear policies are set out on what or will not be permitted and that only policies be included which provide a clear indication of how a decision maker should react to a development proposal (paragraph 154).

 More information to follow...

The results of the first stage of Santon's public consultation have just been published. The main points are as follows...

The first consultation events saw 632 people attend, with 278 questionnaires and 358 other comments left.

The seven key issues that were raised in consultation are shown below.

1. The interest in affordable housing is based on an understanding that this will benefit local people and not people from outside. There may be an expectation that assurances can be given to this effect and some indication of the quantum of affordable housing that will be provided.

2. The consultation process must continue to engage Lewes residents to allay specific concerns, to address a degree of scepticism that seems to exist about developments in general, and to engage a wider range of people across the town.

3. There seems to be a fairly strong pro-independent/anti-corporate feeling amongst many respondents. This may need further exploration to establish a balance that is likely to be acceptable and to determine what type of chains and retail mix would be preferable, given town’s current retail offer.

4. Transport access issues during the development stage and after its completion are likely to remain high on the agenda of local people, particularly those who live in close proximity to the site.

5. There is concern about what will happen to the arts/creative and light industrial businesses that are currently operating on the site, and solutions to their future operation will need to be developed.

6. Green spaces and environmental sustainability are likely to remain important components of the development for a number of people in the town.

7. The scale and height of buildings are important to many people and there seems to be a preference for a mix of styles, which needs to be considered carefully in the design phase.

You can read the full story here http://www.northstreetqtr.co.uk/pages/consultation-summary

The  Santon Group's first 'North Street Quarter' Public Consultation is now done. There were two meetings (the second a repeat of the first) and there were people to talk to from Santon, RH Partnership (the architects working with Santon on the 'masterplanning' process) and The Democratic Society (the people managing the public consultation for Santon). There was also a questionnaire to fill in.

Santon's North Street Quarter website is now operational - you can see what's being proposed/discussed at www.northstreetqtr.co.uk.

Santon say 'North Street Quarter is a suggested name for the area around North Street, including the former Phoenix industrial estate, arguably the most important current development area in Lewes.

This development is potentially an exciting ‘place-making’ opportunity for Lewes. It is really important that we embrace every means by which we can influence what is to be built on North Street and possibly Eastgate, and that we approach Santon’s consultation process with evidence-based and realistic suggestions.

We need to encourage our politicians to ensure that the real needs of the people of Lewes are kept at the forefront of discussion, that the Local Plan is followed, and that maximising affordable housing and supporting/developing local business is a priority.

We need to ensure that the planning authorities – Lewes District Council and South Downs National Park Authority – are robust in enforcing their powers to insist that the development is in keeping with the townscape and not an ugly annex.

The Santon Group (the new owners of the North Street/Phoenix site) will be holding a series of three public workshops on the future of the site, in the light of the Council and National Park Authority’s draft Core Strategy for the town. Independent facilitators the Democratic Society will support the public conversation in the town.

Ever since this Georgian building closed as a school standing in its magnificent grounds this landscape jewel in Lewes’ crown has been an obvious target for development. The Land Trust supported the recent move to modify the Conservation Area boundary to include the school grounds. Despite opposition from the site’s owner, East Sussex County Council, the South Down National Park Authority approved the change unanimously. This gives a degree of protection to the site, making inappropriate development less likely.

However the Land Trust believes that this site represents a magnificent opportunity for community ownership with a development that would respect the value of the grounds while it also would provide much-needed affordable housing.

If you agree with this aim, please join us in our efforts to preserve this important site for Lewes.

The threat of demolition of this charismatic Arts & Crafts building at the western end of the town has temporarily receded. Love it or not, most Lewesians recognise that this iconic landmark should only ever be replaced by a building of significantly greater merit.

When the Hall’s owner appealed against the recent refusal to allow demolition, the Land Trust worked hard, along with other community groups that included the Friends of Lewes and the Lewes Conservation Area Advisory Group, to persuade the inspector to uphold the refusal.

We now learn that the owner plans to submit a fresh proposal to develop the site, putting the Hall, once again, in jeopardy.

We await the new proposals with interest. In the meantime we are pleased to learn that our District Council has instructed the owner to take remedial action to stop the Hall falling into decay.

Lewes District Council’s Core Strategy has idenitfied the North Street area in Lewes, known by the new owners The Santon Group as the North Street Quarter, as an area for redevelopment. The Core Strategy, due to be discussed & approved today at a full Council Meeting, could pave the way for 350 homes, up to 5,000 sq m of office space, retail space, a hotel and redeveloping or relocating the Waitrose supermarket.

However, some businesses and traders at Phoenix Place, Lewes are against the proposed plans for redevelopment of the estate. An online petition against plans to demolish part of Lewes gained more than 2,000 signatures.

Are you one of the hundreds of Lewes residents and business people who took part in our research to find out what the people want for this run-down industrial estate so close to the heart of our town?

Part of the Phoenix, as it used to be called, is still owned by Lewes District Council. If you are a Council Tax or business tax payer – that means YOU!

The rest has been bought by a property development company called The Santon Group, who has assured us that it plans to listen carefully to the people before making its plans for North Street.

Understandably, Santon also recognises that it should follow planning guidelines from the Local Authority.

Those are about to be finalised by our District Council.

News release by East Sussex County Council...

The site of the former St Anne's School in Rotten Row, Lewes is to be sold by the County Council – but for community use only.

It means that the site cannot be used for housing development and any new owner must show how they can work with current tenant, the voluntary organisation 3VA.

The sale of the site was agreed this week by the Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Community and Resources, Keith Glazier.