Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report 1 June 2022

Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 1 June 2022:

SDNP/22/02197/FUL: Demolition of existing buildings and construction of mixed-use development comprising 3 houses (Class C3), 37 self-contained flats (Class C3) and 192m2 of ground floor commercial space (Class E), with associated access alterations, landscaping and parking. Former Bus Station Eastgate Street.
The Friends of Lewes strongly object to this application for the following reasons: –

(1) The design of the proposed development is totally inappropriate for this sensitive location within the Lewes Conservation Area and is not sympathetic to the character of the town.

(2) The bulk and scale of the proposed development is too dominant in relation to the surrounding area and adjacent buildings and needs to be reduced significantly.

(3) The site’s important corner location requires a more sympathetic design approach, which effectively links the domestic scale of East Street with the more commercial character of Eastgate Street and as such would act as an ‘entrance’ to the historic town centre of Lewes.

(4) The proposed development does not meet the requirement for 50% affordable housing in accordance with the South Downs Local Plan Policy SD28 which should be the starting point for the redevelopment of this site.

(5) The Society considers that the relocation of the existing bus station is an essential pre-requisite to granting planning permission for the redevelopment of this site. The relocation of the bus station should not compromise delivery of the extant planning permission SDNP/15/01146/FUL or other proposals for redevelopment of the North Street Quarter in accordance with Strategic Site Policy SD57.

(6) As such, the Society considers that a planning condition should be drafted that would prevent the demolition of the existing bus station until a suitable alternative bus facility has been both agreed and implemented.

(7) With regard to the South Downs Strategic Site Policy SD48 on Climate Change and Sustainable Use of Resources, the Society would like to encourage the planning authority to demonstrate greater commitment to this policy and to the provision of zero carbon homes.

SDNP/22/02056/HOUS: Enlargement of existing single vehicle off road parking and drop kerb for two vehicles. 6 Meridian Road.
Friends of Lewes would like to comment that permeable materials should be used on the enlarged drive and that adequate drainage is provided in order to ensure that there is no surface water run off onto Meridian Road.

SDNP/22/02098/HOUS: Erection of a rear, infill, single storey extension to existing dwelling. 36 Morris Road.
Friends of Lewes would like to comment that the attention to detail in the way that the extension relates to the adjacent house is to be commended.

SDNP/22/02257/HOUS: Installation of conservation rooflights to existing loft, replacement and new windows & door to rear and side elevation at ground floor and lower ground floor level and minor internal modifications to layout. 1 Dorset Road.
Friends of Lewes would like to support this application.

SDNP/22/02426/HOUS: Erection of single storey rear extension, hip to gable roof extension with creation of dormer, rooflights and alterations to windows and doors. 12 Houndean Rise.
Friends of Lewes object to the dormer which is of poor design, too large and unsympathetic to original design of the house and notes that this application is very similar to the previous application which was refused.

SDNP/22/02516/FUL: Demolition of an existing house (C3) and erection of 2no new build houses (C3). 41 Queens Road.
Friends of Lewes support the principle of demolition of the existing house and the erection of 2 new houses but consider that the appearance of the proposed houses to be unsympathetic to the other houses in the vicinity.

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

SDNP/22/01773/LIS	140 High Street. Glazed screen between library and hallway.
SDNP/22/01871/HOUS	7 The Lynchets. Demolish porch and construct lean to porch.
SDNP/22/02097/HOUS	32 Mountfield Road. Porch extension.
SDNP/22/02108/LIS	10-11 Priory Crescent. Balustrading to first-floor rear balcony.
SDNP/22/02159/HOUS	23 Houndean Rise. Rear dormer and front, side and rear rooflights.
SDNP/22/02216/HOUS	18 Garden Street. Replace rear windows.
SDNP/22/02294/LDP	11 Glebe Close. Loft conversion with four front rooflights.
SDNP/22/02304/HOUS	9 St Michael’s Terrace. Change pitched roof to flat roof with lantern light over previously built rear extension.
SDNP/22/02001/HOUS	9 The Avenue. Replace front two windows and one rear window with double-glazed timber windows, painted white.