The Friends of Lewes have submitted the following response to Lewes District Council’s consultation on a Local Plan Spatial Strategy. Friends of Lewes do not support the proposed inclusion of a 1,100 house development at Cooksbridge/Hamsey.
Author: Admin
Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report – 10th January 2024
Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10th January 2024
Week 29 November 2023 to 8 January 2024
SDNP/23/04978/HOUS: Replacement of windows. 37 Western Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1RL
Friends of Lewes object to the design of the windows proposed. The existing windows are traditional timber windows with wooden glazing bars. The windows proposed are timber but have double glazed units with fake glazing bars attached to the glass surface and within the double-glazed unit. The materials and construction are not appropriate for use in the Conservation Area.
The Committee examined the following applications and had no observations to make:
| SDNP/23/04924/LIS: 101 High Street. | Replace chimney cowl. |
| SDNP/23/04528/FUL: GAP Hire SouthdownsRoad. | Acoustic barrier, bell mouth at access, location of dropped kerb and retrospective installation of acoustic fence and lights. |
| SDNP/23/04658/HOUS: 12 North Way. | Remove conservatory and erect rear extension. |
| SDNP/23/05119/FUL: 176A High Street. | Replace 1st floor windows. |
| SDNP/23/05120/HOUS: 95 Spences Lane. | Single storey side extension. |
| SDNP/23/05155/FUL: First and Second Floor, 46 Malling Street. | Change of use to single dwelling Class C3. |
| SDNP/23/05184/FUL: Badan Lodge, Cuilfail. | Demolish dwelling and replace part single part 2 storey dwelling to include swimming pool and pool house. |
| SDNP/23/05223/HOUS: | Replace roof, window and door, relocate boiler flue, new hob extract and partial rebuild of garden wall. |
| SDNP/23/05288/HOUS: 3 Barons Down Road. | Single storey rear extension. |
| SDNP/23/05403/LIS: 162 High Street. | Retrospective application for painting wall, fascia board, door and window dried sage green. |
| SDNP/23/05456/HOUS: 49 Cluny Street. | 14 solar panels. |
Become a Friend of Lewes
Coffee Time Talk: Laughton Greenwood – Our Local Community Woodland – 19 March 2024
Tuesday 19 March, 10.30 am, Eastgate Church Hall, Eastgate Street, Lewes, BN7 2LR
Steve Lewis of Laughton Greenwood
The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe. Trees bring us beauty, mindfulness and carbon capture. Within Lewes town we have the excellent work of Lewes Urban Arboretum, planting trees on the verges. But the nearest community woodland to Lewes is Laughton Greenwood, just beyond Ringmer. This is one of the few volunteer-run woods in Sussex. Whereas most of the surrounding woods have signs that say ‘Private – Keep Out’, Laughton Greenwood has signs that say ‘Welcome’. Volunteers try to manage the wood for three purposes. One, to develop the ancient trees and English broadleaf wood, two, to increase nature and biodiversity, and three, to increase opportunities for the public to visit. Regular nature walks and bird or butterfly transects bring the chance to learn more about nature, and we would love to offer visits for local schools.
Come and hear Steve Lewis, current chair of the volunteer committee talk about Laughton Greenwood and the challenges and opportunities.
Tree-planting group at Laughton Greenwood, photo: courtesy of Laughton Greenwood
This talk is free for Friends of Lewes. Non-members can pay £4.00 on the door to attend or join here.
See the Diary page for a list of forthcoming events organised by the Friends of Lewes
FoL Response to Human Nature’s latest amendments to the Phoenix Project
The Friends of Lewes have now submitted their comments on the above project, which are now available on the Planning Portal (SDNP/23/00526/OUT).
In preparing this response, as the Friends of Lewes, the Society not only has to assess the details of the proposal, but also how the proposed new development will impact on the existing town and in particular how it will integrate at specific locations.
The remaining outstanding concern is the proposed location of the “Co Mobility Hub”, which is effectively a multi storey car park, so close to Phoenix Causeway. Furthermore, there seems to be limited potential for providing any good quality public realm at this important entrance to Lewes Town Centre.
Response to Old Malling Farm Consultation
The Friends of Lewes have submitted the following strong objections in response to the consultation on Old Malling Farm, Lewes – Reserved Matters Application (SDNP/23/04659/REM):
Update on Blake’s Walk, South Malling
After extensive consultation, work is due to be carried out on trees in Blake’s Walk, South Malling between 12 February and 1st of March. The work will bring all of the trees into a size, shape and condition that will make it easier to maintain them in the long term and prolong the healthy life of the trees. It has been discussed and approved by the Blake’s Walk Tree Specialist Group which contains members of the Trees Committee of Friends of Lewes. Full details are below:
Consultation on ‘Towards a Lewes Plan’
Lewes District Council has launched a consultation on Towards a Lewes Local Plan: Spatial Strategy and Policy Directions. The document aims to set the planning framework to 2040 and identifies potential locations for new housing in the LDC area outside of the South Downs National Park.
Friends of Lewes intends to comment on the plan and individuals are encouraged to read the plan and submit their own comments by following this link.
The closing date for the consultation has been extended to 12 pm on Monday 19 February 2024. Paper copies of the document can be viewed in Lewes Library and other locations.
FoL Talk: The River Ouse: Current condition, pressures and what we’re doing about it – Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust – 20 February 2024
Tuesday 20 February 2024, 7:30 pm by ZOOM
With Peter King, Director of the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust (OART).
The River Ouse catchment contains a diverse range of streams, brooks and lakes which flow through both urban and rural settings, offering different ecosystems and habitats for a variety of wildlife and a wonderful resources for people to enjoy. The Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust (OART) believe in the importance of understanding and data-drive science. Only by being out and about on the ground, collecting a variety of information and monitoring the condition of the Ouse can we focus our efforts where they are most effective.
In his talk Pete will provide an insightful overview of the river, the state it’s in, the pressures it’s under, and some of the solutions available including a summary of some of the projects OART has under taken in the Ouse catchment over the past few years and those planned for the future.
Photo: Courtesy of OART
This talk is free to members of the Friends of Lewes, and £4 to non-members. Non-members can buy a ticket (£4) from TicketSource, which will provide a link for this Zoom talk.
Members will receive an email with a Zoom link.
Please click on that link to attend the talk 5 minutes before it starts.
We would recommend a computer screen or an iPad as a minimum screen-size for viewing our Zoom talks.
Our presenters will be speaking live, and you can ask questions by typing in the Chat box in Zoom.
See the Diary page for a list of forthcoming events organised by the Friends of Lewes
Old Malling Farm Consultation
The planning application on Reserved Matters for Old Malling Farm, Old Malling Way, Lewes is currently open for consultation and the deadline has been extended to Friday 26th January.
The application is “for approval of scale, layout, external appearance and landscaping following grant of Outline Planning Permission for erection of 226 dwellings including affordable housing, public open space and associated infrastructure including vehicular and pedestrian access from Monks Way.”
The documents associated with the application can be found via the SDNPA’s Planning Portal by searching for application no. SDNP/18/06103/OUT. Anyone wishing to make representations can do so via the Public Access page (see Guidance).
Blake’s Walk – New Tree Management Plan
FoL’s Trees committee has been working closely with East Sussex Highways and others to develop an improved approach to the management of the trees along Blake’s Walk in South Malling. There had been a proposal for the poplar trees to be removed, but the new agreement is for the poplars to “be managed by pruning on a three yearly basis or as necessary” beginning with those on the east side in February 2023, with management of those on the west side planned for next winter. More details are attached.
Friends of Lewes 