A representative of the Friends of Lewes attended the SDNPA Planning committee meeting on the 16th July 2026 and read the following statement.
SDNPA Planning Committee Agenda item 12. Final.
The Friends of Lewes requests an update on the enforcement situation in respect of two prominent listed buildings in the Lewes conservation area.
The first, Shelleys Hotel, a grade II* elegant listed building, dates from 16th century, with 18th century decoration, 17th century panelling and 16th century wall-paintings, closed at the start of the Covid pandemic and has remained empty and unmaintained since. It has now been put on the SAVE ‘buildings at risk’ register.
The adjacent, 136 High Street, an early 19th century, red and brown brick gabled Grade II listed building, has been boarded up since before 2020.
The need for action on both these properties has been being raised with officers since April 2020.
We were told in December 2025 that a section 215 notice had been served in respect of Shelleys Hotel, as it appeared to the authority that the amenity of a part of the town was adversely affected by the condition of a building and land. We have been unable to obtain details of the notice, or the time for compliance, despite repeated requests. Because of the importance of the fabric of the hotel building, and the condition of 136 High Street, we expressed the hope that efforts would continue, through the warrant process, to gain legal access so that their condition could be assessed, and hopefully confirmation received that were watertight with all the historic features protected.
The condition of 136 High Street, the adjacent property, remains unacceptable with boarded up windows and doors. We sought a notice to address these matters. Recently, timber sheeting has been fixed to the top of the side gates to Shelleys Hotel, increasing their height to 3.5m, without the necessary planning permission or listed building consent. Both buildings continue to deteriorate to the detriment of the townscape in this part of the conservation area.
We can find no record on public access portals or the enforcement register of any action by the authority, although more than 6 months has elapsed since the 215 notice was apparently served.
Trees are undermining the foundations of the listed building. Urgent action is necessary. Without any answers to emails we are formally raising these concerns, as the situation undermines the role and effectiveness of the authority. The case featured on the front of Lewes News, the community newspaper distributed to every household in the town, because of the considerable public interest. The authority was asked to provide information but declined.
The continued apparent absence of action is considered entirely unacceptable, and is inconsistent with the very high level of scrutiny by officers of planning applications to alter, paint or repair listed buildings and non-listed buildings in the town.
