Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report May 2014

Friends of Lewes Planning Committee

Decisions taken on planning applications at a meeting held on Thursday, 1 May 2014.

SDNP/14/01306/FUL Dripping Pan, Mountfield Road

The Friends of Lewes does not object to the proposed artificial pitch and surrounding fencing and notes the site is already screened on two sides. It has concerns about floodlighting and appropriate design is essential to limit horizontal and vertical light spill. No floodlighting should be allowed after 10pm. It has no objection to the proposed club house and considers the south facing elevations to be of good design. It supports the amendments made to the design of the footpath fencing between the exit from the proposed tunnel to the new artificial pitch as shown in Drawing number L(P)002 Rev D. A knee high single rail wooden fence linking the new 3G pitch to the changing rooms is considered more appropriate than the 1.5 metre green mesh metal fence originally proposed, which the Society felt would be visually intrusive. It believes the amended design fulfils the requirements of Policy ST3 of the Lewes District Council Local Plan.

Week ending 8 April

SDNP/14/01482/FUL Tesco Stores: Dry cleaning, key cutting, shoe repairs pod.

The Friends of Lewes object to this application which it considers contrary to Policy ST3 of the Lewes district Council Local Plan and Core Policy 11 of the emerging Core Strategy. The proposed pod is an ugly addition and sited in a prominent position at the front of the store which is within the National Park and would be visible from the Riverside Walk and the hills around Lewes. The scheme fails to contribute to the local distinctiveness of Lewes and does not fit in with the character and appearance of the town. Furthermore, the development will lead to the loss an additional two parking spaces on top of those already lost as a result of permissions granted recently for a Car Wash and a Click and Collect facility. There is already congestion in Brooks Road at peak times from cars queuing to enter the car park and this development will make the situation worse.

Week ending 15 April

SDNP/14/01781/HOUS 20 Grange Road: Full width dormer window

The Friends of Lewes object to this application which it considers contrary to ST3 of the Lewes District Council Local Plan and Core Policy 11 of the emerging Core Strategy. The proposed rear roof dormer is too wide, the scale and massing does not fit in with the character of neighbouring properties and it would be visible from the surrounding area. The Society has no objection to the design of the front dormer window and commends the reinstatement of the front railings.

SDNP/14/01779/HOUS   Whitegates, Rotten Row, Lewes: Extensions

The Friends of Lewes object to this application which it considers contrary to ST3 of the Lewes District Council Local Plan and Core Policy 11 of the emerging Core Strategy. The replacement single storey west extension design is very contemporary in appearance and in sharp contrast to the style of the existing house. The main two storey extension to the rear is a contrasting contemporary “glass and timber box” with a very low pitch standing seam metal roof and the external walls aligned with both the existing south facing and east facing brick gables. This results in a number of very unsatisfactory façade and roof details. Although the two storey extension to the rear of the property has some screening and would be quite difficult to see from most viewpoints, the upper floor would be visible from the adjacent recreation ground.

Week ending 29 April

SDNP/14/01560/LDP Lewes Old Grammar School, Western Road: Change of use

The Friends of Lewes does not object in principle to this application but is concerned about the impact on road traffic if vehicles stop in Western Road to drop off or pick up children. It is an unsuitable location for mini buses to stop at any time.

SDNP/14/01957/HOUS 76 Valence Road: Loft conversion and dormer windows

The Friends of Lewes object to this application which it considers contrary to ST3 of the Lewes District Council Local Plan and Core Policy 11 of the emerging Core Strategy. This property is one of a pair of semi-detached houses and the proposed dormers are out of scale and unbalanced. The development would be visible from the wider National Park.

The Committee examined the following applications and had no observations to make:

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