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Author: friendsoflewes
Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report – 26th November 2025
Executive Committee:- There was a meeting of the Executive Committee on Wednesday 26th November 2025.
Relevant items discussed:-
Planning Committee: Despite our objection to the proposed redevelopment of the annexe to the rear of the White Hart Hotel. (Ref: SDNP/25/00496/FUL), the application was approved by the SDNPA’s Planning Committee.
Planning in Lewes. Without any prior consultation, the SDNPA has announced that the Contract with Lewes District Council to assess minor planning applications in Lewes will NOT BE RENEWED when the current contact ends on the 31st March 2026. On the 08th December, a letter was sent to Sion McGeever, (the CEO of the South Downs National Park), expressing the Society’s dissatisfaction at the way Planning in Lewes is being handled by the park authority.
Decisions: From 11/11/25 to 27/11/25:
The following SNPA decisions were available online:
SDNP/25/02763/FUL: Southdown Sports Club, Cockshut Road: Creation of 2no padel courts and the re-siting of 2no tennis courts together with floodlighting. Approved.
SDNP/25/02990/HOUS: 9 Caburn Crescent: Hip-to-cable roof extension with rear dormer and loft conversion (Amended Plans). Approved.
SDNP/25/03228/HOUS: Fairlight, Cuilfail: Conversion from 3no bed bungalow to 5no bed house with erection of new storey. Approved.
New Planning Applications:
The Committee examined the following applications and had no observations to make:
| SDNP/25/02917/FUL: 17 Tanners Brook: | Installation of solar panels to rear roof of property. |
| SDNP/25/04113/HOUS: 43 New Road: | Roof lights to front rear slope with a rear dormer. |
| SDNP/25/04402/HOUS: 132 South Street: | Replacement of existing white upvc windows and rear doors with black aluminium framed doors and windows, and erection of clay tiled roof canopy along the rear elevation. |
| SDNP/25/04454/HOUS: 39 Morris Road: | Replacement double glazed sash windows. |
Friends of Lewes Coffee morning
Changes to the planning process affecting decision making in Lewes District
SDNPA update on Lewes planning web page
Letter to Siôn McGeever ( CEO South Downs National Park Authority)
Response from Tim Slaney (Director of Planning South Downs National Park Authority)
Christmas greetings from Friends of Lewes
Peter Thurman – “Trees and Climate Change” presentation
Presentation slides from Tuesday 25th November 2025
Peter Thurman of The Thurman Consultancy talked about how trees may ameliorate the effects of Climate Change and how humans can enable them to do this.
S.D.N.P.A – Update on Lewes planning
November 14th, 2025
Lewes and its local communities continue to be a hugely important part of the National Park since its creation 15 years ago and planning is at the heart of ensuring the area’s continued vibrancy and prosperity.
During that time some planning work has been delivered on the National Park Authority’s behalf by Lewes District Council as part of a “Host Authority” contract and a number of successes have been achieved, including strong neighbourhood planning, much-needed affordable homes and the creation of new wildlife havens.
We have more recently been engaging and working more closely with the groups which represent the Town, including the Town Council, to help shape the future of the Local Plan and how it can continue to support this important town in the National Park. We also joined the Lewes Floods 25th Anniversary events to remember and learn from these devastating floods. We look forward to continuing these relationships and working together to deliver for Lewes.
In that vein and by mutual agreement the current contract with Lewes District Council is coming to an end on 31 March 2026, giving us the next five months to work together on a smooth and efficient transfer.
As the largest settlement in the National Park, we’re looking at the potential of an area for the team to work from in Lewes to deliver this planning work.
We’re aware of the unique nature of planning issues in and around Lewes and the interest they can generate. We’re keen to ensure that planning delivers the best results for the people of Lewes and the National Park, having regard to the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan.
The SDNPA planning teams deal with applications across the whole of the National Park and six of the districts’ entire planning workload are already handled by the National Park Authority. For more information see www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning-process/