Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 3rd July 2024
3/6/24 to 28/6/24:
SDNP/24/02292/FUL: 64 High Street: Change of use of part of ground/lower floor and first and second floors to 4 residential units together with alterations to the roof to create a new third floor for a further residential unit. Alterations to side and rear elevations to replace windows and doors, various changes to rear parking to create amenity space, parking and ancillary facilities.
The Friends of Lewes object to this application for the following reasons:-
(1) The Society is concerned about the proposed significant reduction of commercial floor space on the ground and lower ground floors, as the Society considers that it is important to maintain options for future commercial uses fronting the High Street at this important location.
(2) The Society acknowledges that there is potential for residential units on the first and second floors.
(3) However, the Society objects to the proposed alterations to the roof to create a new third floor for a further residential unit as this would result in an unacceptable roof profile, when viewed from a number of local vantage points, including the Castle. In this respect the Society endorses the recommendations of the Conservation Officer.
(4) It is not clear whether the two parking spaces to be retained at the rear would continue to be solely for the commercial use at ground floor, resulting in no parking provision for any of the proposed residential units.
(5) Although some provision has been made for cycle storage to the rear of the property, the space would appear to be cramped and access to the storage of individual cycles restricted.
(6) No space provided has been allocated at the rear of the property for the provision of both refuse and recycling wheelie bins for either the retained commercial use, or for the proposed residential units. In this respect, the Society suggests that the proposed amenity space be abandoned in order to avoid any wheelie bins being located in the High Street at the front of the building.
SDNP/24/01177/HOUS: 7 Berkeley Row: Single storey side extension.
The Friends of Lewes appreciate that this proposal is minor and consider it unfortunate that it would both be clearly visible from Berkley Row and limit future access to the rear garden. The Society would therefore like to suggest that it would be beneficial if the extension could be set further back from the frontage of the house and that the finish of the extension should try to match the original house. It would also be beneficial if a new access to the rear garden could be achieved via the adjacent footway to the west of the house.
SDNP/24/02347/FUL: 3 South Street: Erection of single storey rear extension, extension to the existing cellar, replacement of outrigger roof, replacement of pitched roof window, lowering of rear boundary wall and external renovation.
The Friends of Lewes object to this application for the following reasons:-
(1) This dwelling is located within Flood Zone 2 and was flooded in the 2000 Lewes Flood, together with a significant number of other buildings in the adjacent South Street / Cliffe High Street area.
(2) Within this context, the Society is concerned about any proposal to excavate below ground in this area in order to either increase the size or to lower the floor level of existing cellars, which should be used for storage purposes only and should not be considered as possible ‘habitable space’.
(3) Indeed, the Society is concerned about the impact of the proposed excavation works on adjacent buildings, in terms of both the likely vibration and the risk to structural stability.
(4) Of particular concern is no.1 South Street, (known as the Bag of Books), which is Grade II listed.
SDNP/24/02356/FUL: Liquid Studio, St Andrews lane: Conversion and extension of existing detached office building for use as a single family dwelling including construction of boundary treatments.
The Friends of Lewes are currently unable to support this application, due to the following concerns:-
(1) Whilst the retention of the existing office building is to be welcomed, the Society is not convinced that the metal structure would be capable of conversion and adaptation due to its current condition.
(2) The Society considers that the proposed design could make an interesting ‘stand alone’ scheme, but is not convinced that it would be appropriate within the Conservation Area and being located so close to a number of Grade II Listed buildings.
(3) The Society is concerned about the successful retention of a number of mature trees along the northern boundary of the site that are likely to have to be cut back during the construction process.
(4) The Society is particularly concerned about the need to successfully protect the mature lime tree on the St Andrews Lane street frontage, which is currently subject to a TPO.
(5) Given its high profile location, The Society would like the opportunity to assess the detail of the proposed elevations with the benefit of larger scale drawings.
(6) The Society is also concerned about the appropriateness of the external materials proposed within the Conservation Area, and in particular the choice of a copper standing seam roof.
(6) The Society also considers that it would be beneficial if the entrance to the proposed dwelling could be clearly visible from the St Andrews street frontage.
The Committee examined the following applications and had no observations to make:
| SDNP/24/02448/FUL & 02449/LIS: 1 Market Street: | Replacement of existing timber casement and sash windows with like-for-like timber units. |
| SDNP/24/02560/TEL: 223-224 High Street: | Installation of fixed line broadband electronic communications apparatus under Regulation 5, detailed as 60 meters cable on wall. |
| SDNP/24/02443/HOUS: 27 Hamsey Crescent: | Single storey rear extension to create an open plan kitchen and dining space, conversion of remaining garage storeroom, installation of Air Source Heat Pump and raised terrace deck. |
| SDNP/24/02433/FUL: Flat 2, 34 King Henry’s Road: | Replacement windows, one with patio door, new railings and ladder rungs to two basement lightwells and two new extract outlets. |
| SDNP/24/02400/LIS: 140 High Street: | Replacement of 2 no. french door sets with associated side panels and top lights to rear extension. |
| SDNP/24/02397/HOUS: 16 St John’s Terrace: | Replace existing single storey outrigger and conservatory with single storey extension, rear roof pitched dormer and add two conservation type windows to front roof slope and fenestration alterations. |
| SDNP/24/02352/HOUS: 13 Garden Street: | Replacement of all timber windows to front of property. |
| SDNP/24/02264/HOUS: The Red House, Rotten Row: | Part Section 73A retrospective application for replacement of rear fenestration, and application for replacement of side and rear doors and addition of 1no.window to rear. |
| SDNP/24/02277/HOUS: 4 Wellhouse Place: | Erection of rear dormer, alterations to rear fenestration and relocation of rear access steps. |
| SDNP/24/02195: 16 Cluny Street: | Erection of rear conservatory. |
| SDNP/24/02144/FUL: 6 Mount Street: | Replacement of 5no windows to front, side and rear elevations. |
| SDNP/24/02132/LIS: 187 High Street: | Refurbishment and replacement works to basements and ground floor levels of property. |
| SDNP/24/02066/FUL: Bowling Green, Castle Precincts: | Erection of wooden shed to store maintenance equipment, shed to be painted green. |
| SDNP/24/01992/FUL: Flats 3-30, Malling Close: | Replacement of doors and windows to flats 3-6, 7-18 and 19-30 including communal areas of the three blocks. |
| SDNP/24/01886/HOUS: 1 Manor Terrace, Potters Lane: | Replacement of existing chimney. |
| SDNP/24/01789/FUL: Sussex Downs College, Southover Building, Mountfield Road: | Erection of portakabin in rear car park area of South building, with separate waste and grey water tank. |
Friends of Lewes 