Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 3 September 2020: 

SDNP/20/02107/HOUS: Creation of dormer to rear and rooflights to front. 16 Evelyn Road.
Friends of Lewes object to the proposed box dormer which is too large and does not conform to the recommendations set out in the Friends of Lewes ‘Planning Advice for Dormer Windows’.

SDNP/20/02774/HOUS: Replacement of existing wooden sash windows with uPVC replica wooden sash windows. 39 Morris Road.
Friends of Lewes object to the use of uPVC materials in the Conservation Area. Wooden sash windows should be used.

SDNP/20/02818/LDP: Hip to gable roof conversion with dormer to the rear. 3 Clare Road.
Friends of Lewes object to the proposed box dormer which is excessively large and does not conform to the recommendations set out in the Friends of Lewes ‘Planning Advice for Dormer Windows’. The design, which includes altering the hipped roof to a gable end, will make the pair of houses unsymmetrical and visually unbalanced.

SDNP/20/03037/HOUS: Garden room gym and home office. 20 Malling Down.
Friends of Lewes comment that the garden room should be ancillary to the main dwelling and conditions should be imposed that ensure that it is not used as a separate dwelling.

SDNP/20/03301/HOUS: Single storey extension to existing porch including render of external walls. 1 Bull Lane.
Friends of Lewes have no objection in principle but consider the external walls to the porch should be finished in brick, not rendered. Any insulation required could be applied to the internal face of the walls.

SDNP/20/01791/HOUS: Erection of single storey rear extension and conversion of loft, including insertion of rear dormer and rooflights to front (AMENDED PLANS). 10 Churchill Road.
The Friends of Lewes objection to the previous submission has been acknowledged but the compromise now being put forward does no overcome the objection to the oversized box dormer, which needs to be reduced further to be visually acceptable.

SDNP/20/03427/CND: Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) of planning approval SDNP/19/03808/FUL to amend the access. Saxonbury Juggs Road.
Friends of Lewes object to the demolition of the existing flint wall that has already taken place. The flint walls bordering Juggs Road are a key feature of the street scene and no justification has been provided for its removal. The existing vehicle access has been adequate historically and the flint wall should be reinstated.

 

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

SDNP/20/026000/FUL & 02940/LIS	Suite 1, 23 High Street.   Convert ground floor suite to residential.
SDNP/20/02691/HOUS	22 The Avenue.   Replace 2 single glazed windows with double glazed.
SDNP/20/02818/LDP	County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent.   3 antennas and ancillary development.
SDNP/20/02822/HOUS	5 Talbot Terrace.   Single storey rear & side extensions and rear roof dormer.
SDNP/20/03077/HOUS	5 Broomans Terrace, Broomans Lane.   Fenestration alterations change location of front door and install stove and flue.
SDNP/20/03117/HOUS	21 Toronto Terrace.   Loft conversion with rear dormer and front roof light.
SDNP/20/03133/HUS	3 Windover Crescent.   Single storey rear extension, two storey rear and side extension, demolish garage, new driveway surface, rear patio, new and replacement windows and doors.
SDNP/20/03475/HOUS	27 Newton Road.   Demolish side extension and replace with new two-storey side extension.   New single-storey rear extension.   Two rear dormers.
SDNP/20/03530/OHL	Land at Juggs Road.   Restringing overhead lines.

Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 6 August 2020: 

SDNP/20/02119/HOUS: Erection of studio in rear garden. 18 East Way.
Friends of Lewes have no objection in principle but comments that the site is on a steep slope and the visual impact of the studio is likely to be greater than that indicated by the drawings. A cross section drawing of the site should have been submitted with the application in accordance with SDNPA validation requirements.

SDNP/20/00497/FUL: New boundary fencing and ramp to area of site adjacent to Styles Field residential development. Lewes House Site Friars Walk.
Friends of Lewes comment that details showing the design of gates have not been submitted with the application and are required. The design of the fencing proposed is not in keeping with the period of Lewes House or appropriate in the Conservation Area. Alternatives, including railings, should be considered.

SDNP/20/01364/HOUS: Section 73A Retrospective application for hip to gable roof extension, rear dormer and front rooflights. 67 North Way.
Friends of Lewes strongly object to the excessive large dormer and hip to gable conversion which is contrary to the Friends of Lewes Planning Advice Note on Dormer Windows. The hip to gable conversion unbalances the symmetry of the pair of semi-detached houses. The Society considers large dormer extensions backing onto open downland, as is the case here, should be refused as they risk damaging the landscape and the views from the South Downs looking towards Lewes. In addition, the Society is concerned that neither plans 427/03 and 427/04 show the new front entrance lobby, with a tiled monopitch roof, that has been added to the front elevation, with new entrance steps to the side. These do not appear on any of the application drawings or those from the previously consented application SDNP/17/02237/HOUS. Furthermore all lawn and shrubs have been removed from the front garden and the entire area paved over in materials that are visually detrimental to the wider street scene.

SDNP/20/02294/FUL: Conversion of storage building to create dwellinghouse with off road parking. 52 Southover High Street.
Friends of Lewes object to the change of use from a storage building to create a dwelling with off road parking. The Society notes than a location plan, existing and proposed site plans showing the context of development within the Anne of Cleves site and details of access to Southover High Street have not been submitted, contrary to SDNPA validation requirements. It considers the application cannot be deemed valid until these documents have been placed in the public domain and made available for public consultation.

Friends of Lewes objection is based on the following:

• S72 (1) of the Listed Buildings and Conservation Area Act sets out the statutory duties with regard to how applications are dealt with in the Conservation Area. Special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the Conservation Area. The Anne of Cleaves Grade II* Listed Building is a key building within the historic Conservation Area and the proposal, which includes providing a vehicle access to new car parking within its grounds, fails to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of it.
• Historic England general advice about development in the Conservation Area says local planning authorities should as a policy always seek to enhance the character and appearance. The proposal would be detrimental to the Conservation Area, not enhance it.
• The principles of the adopted Lewes Conservation Area Management Plan say that all works should be carried out with specific regard to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. Any interaction should echo and reinforce those characteristics of the buildings, townscape and public realm of Lewes which make a positive contribution to the town and its local distinctiveness. The proposal fails to make a positive contribution and will significantly damage the setting and distinctiveness of the Grade II* listed building, which is an important tourist venue.
• Strategic Policy SD12 of the South Downs Local Plan says development proposals will only be permitted where they conserve and enhance the historic environment, including through the safeguarding of heritage assets and their setting. The proposal to include car parking within the setting of Anne of Cleves House does not conserve and enhance the historic environment; it damages its setting and is contrary to this policy.
• Paragraph 105 of the National Planning Policy Framework requires parking standards to take into account the accessibility of the development. The entrance to the site is in an area often crowded by pedestrians visiting Anne of Cleves House. The proposal demonstrates poor accessibility which would result in an increased risk to pedestrians and additional congestion on Southover High Street.

Friends of Lewes therefore consider the application should be refused.

SDNP/20/02442/FUL: Reinstatement works for part new boundary wall following demolition of remaining part wall to former demolished building following approval under application SDNP/19/01100/FUL. 6 Station Street.
Friends of Lewes have no objection to the proposed railings. However, drawing MMA-360-02 shows that the southern pier of the new railings does not align with the end of the existing boundary wall. The offset from the remaining part of the boundary wall will look incongruous and leave an awkward ‘square’ in front of the existing pillar. This has little merit, either visually or historically. The Friends would prefer to see the new piers and railings extended in front of the boundary wall so that the new front facade is complete rather than stopping adrift of the existing boundary, with no sense of belonging and integration between the two.

SDNP/20/02474/LIS: Repointing of cellar arch with bricks to be replaced using bricks and mortar to match the existing, excavation of concrete around the coal chute with provision of concrete slab in the same position as the existing, to provide extra strength above the cellar arch. 20 Lansdown Place.
Friends of Lewes object to the removal of the cast iron coalhole cover from the street. The Society considers the cover could easily be reinstated into the finished pavement using brick or stone in order to preserve the existing street scene.

SDNP/20/02874/HOUS: Single storey rear extension. 37 St John Street.
Friends of Lewes object to the proposed GRP roof and consider materials appropriate to the Conservation Area such as lead or zinc should be used.

SDNP/20/02884/HOUS: Demolition of existing garage and erection of single storey side extension. 9 De Warrenne Road.
Friends of Lewes comments that it does not support the extensive GRP roof which is inappropriate in the Conservation Area and alternative materials such as zinc or lead should be considered. The Society also regards the proposed design to be clumsy and out of character with the area, as is the proposed use of composite cladding in the construction.

SDNP/20/02985/HOUS: Erection of a single storey ground floor extension to rear and new outbuilding to the side: 22 North Way.
Friends of Lewes have no objection to the rear extension. However it objects to the larch clad outbuilding to the side which will appear out of place and out of character with the surrounding area.

 

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

SDNP/20/01759HOUS & 01760/LIS	19 Cliffe High Street.   Replace window with French doors and construct balcony.
SDNP/20/01820/FUL & 01822/LIS	Windmill Lodge Stables. Demolish four stables and erect single storey dwelling.
SDNP/20/02516/HOUS	66 Highdown Road.   Three single storey ground floor extensions.
SDNP/20/02527/LIS	73 High Street.   Reinforced concrete base and retaining wall at lower ground level, with buttressing brick wall between existing chimney and west wall.
SDNP/20/02535/HOUS	1 Montacute Road.   Remove conservatory, new porch, replace windows and balustrade to balconies new rooflights and dormers.
SDNP/20/02564/FUL	Waitrose, Eastgate Street.   Replace plant refrigeration unit and install generator and motorcycle parking bay.
SDNP/20/02586/CND	3 Fisher Street.   Variation of condition 2 (Plans) relating to planning approval SDNP/19/05316/FUL to allow for modification of rear elevation.
SDNP/20/02734/HOUS	55 Priory Street.   Replace front window.
SDNP/20/02778/FUL	Suite 2, 12 Albion Street.   Change use from B1 (office) to D1 (chiropody).
SDNP/20/02805/FUL	Malling House, Church Lane, South Malling.   Antennas on existing telecommunications mast.
SDNP/20/02806/HOUS	2 Offham Road.   Demolish conservatory and build new flat roof ground floor extension.
SDNP/20/02814/HOUS	7 Mount Place.   Garden shed, two rear rooflights and change colour of doors to BS08E51 golden yellow.
SDNP/20/02822/HOUS	5 Talbot Terrace.   Resubmit application SDNP/14/05161/HOUS  single storey rear and side extensions and rear dormer.
SDNP/20/02843/HOUS	11 Ferrers Road.   Convert garage and single storey rear extension.
SDNP/20/02867/LIS	72-73 High Street. Masonry structural pier in basement to support chalk arch structure.
SDNP/20/02872/HOUS	85 Highdown Road.   Refurbish and re-clad side extension, enlarge front porch and single storey rear extension.
SDNP/20/02927/LIS	101 High Street.   Replace and rearrange bathroom site, repair and stabilise dormer beam and replace pine boards in hallway.
SDNP/20/03005/HOUS	9 Hill Road.   Rear extension and renovation.
SDNP/20/03017/NMA	3 St Andrew’s Place, Southover Road. Alteration to approved rear extension to allow creation of second bathroom.

 

The UK Government’s Planning for the Future White Paper of August 2020 lays out proposals to reform the planning system in England in order to streamline and modernise the planning process, bring a new focus to design and sustainability, improve the system of developer contributions to infrastructure, and ensure more land is available for development where it is needed.

Friends of Lewes response to the consultation, September 2020 [pdf 461kb]

Planning for the Future White Paper, August 2020

Friends of Lewes responses to consultations