Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report – 6th November 2024

Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 6th November 2024

01/10/24 to 31/10/24:

SDNP/24/03471/FUL: Garage Compound Buckwell Court. Demolition of garages and erection of 2 x dwellings.

SDNP/24/03472/FUL: Garage Compound Waldshut Road. Demolition of garages and construction of 1no dwelling.  

SDNP/24/03582/FUL: Garage Compound Crisp Road. Demolition of garages and erection of 2 x dwellings. 

SDNP/24/03583/FUL: Garage Compound Kingsley Road. Demolition of garages and erection of 6 x dwellings.

SDNP/24/03585/FUL: Garage Compound Landport Road. Demolition of garages and erection of 9 x dwellings. 

SDNP/24/03586/FUL: Garage Compound Prince Charles Road. Demolition of garages and erection of 4 x dwellings.  

SDNP/24/03587/FUL: Garage Compound Queens Road. Demolition of garages and erection of 6 x dwellings.

The Friends of Lewes support all of the above applications in principle, both in design terms and because they would add to Lewes’s housing stock, especially if they maximise the opportunity to provide much-needed affordable housing.

SDNP/24/03950/HOUS:  26 Queens Road. Erection of front porch, extension of existing driveway and dropped kerb.

The Friends of Lewes object to this application. However the Society suggests that the entrance door would benefit from being repositioned on the front face of the proposed porch, (or a larger/deeper window), in order to allow the building to properly address the street (or, incorporating a larger/deeper window in place of the slit window). The proposal also needs to demonstrate how the soak-away works within the boundary of the property. 

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

SDNP/24/03738/FUL: 5 North Street. Change of use from part class E and part class C3, to class C3 only, including layout and external alterations, to provide a single dwelling house. 
SDNP/24/04085/HOUS: 6 The Course.Replacement windows to front and rear elevations.
SDNP/24/04034/FUL: Offices 1-4, 21 High Street. Conversion of first floor office accommodation (Class E) to 3no residential units (Class C3) (2no 2 Bedroom & 1no 1 Bedroom), including internal and external alterations.
SDNP/24/04228/HOUS: 47 Spences Lane.Erection of front entrance porch, conversion of integral garage into living accommodation and minor alterations.  
SDNP/24/04335/CND: Castle Cottage Castle Ditch Lane.Variation of Condition 2 (plans) to include changes to internal layout, external hopper and downpipe removed from rear elevation, relocation of entrance doors and glazed inset panels removed from entrance doors at ground and first floor levels. Also, removal of conditions 3e (i) (EV charge point), 3e (iv) (private garden compost bin) and 13 (installation of blackout blind system) related to Planning Approval
SDNP/21/06397/FUL.
SDNP/24/02447/HOUS: 29 The Avenue.29 The Avenue. Section 73a retrospective replacement of a chimney stack.
SDNP/24/03625/HOUS: 7 The Avenue.Erection of Victorian style aluminium greenhouse.
SDNP/24/03702/FUL: 111 High Street.Retrospective retention of car barrier.
SDNP/24/03812/HOUS: Priory Lodge, Southover High Street.Replacement of garage door adjoining a Grade II Listed Building.
SDNP/24/03844/FUL: The Malthouse Daveys Lane.Section 73a retrospective change of use from light industrial (Class E) to microbrewery and taproom (sui generis), addition of toilet block and canopy shelter.  
SDNP/24/04013/LDP: 17 Highdown Road.Alterations to dwelling to include reinstatement of original internal porch and new front door, alterations to side and rear facing windows and replacement of conservatory glazing.
SDNP/24/04086/HOUD: 45 South Way.Enlargement of existing rear extension and conversion of garage storeroom and erection of raised timber deck.
SDNP/24/04094/FUL: 179 High Street.Remove the existing rear roof terrace timber balustrading and lightwells, installation of new powder coated aluminium balustrading. Installation of new rear bollards, replacement rear decking.
SDNP/24/04126/HOUS: 21 Gundreda Road.Erection of green roof rear extension, internal renovations, replacement side entrance porch, removal of front conservatory and replacement with bay window and removal of chimney stack.
SDNP/24/04219/FUL: 16-22 Stansfield Road.Proposed replacement of doors/windows.
SDNP/24/04261/LIS: 7 New Road.Proposed rear lead clad dormer to facilitate a loft conversion and ground floor infill extension under existing first floor extension.
SDNP/24/04302/HOUS: 64 Highdown Road.Erection of single storey rear extension, conversion of garage, erection of porch and pergola.
SDNP/24/04394/LIS: 134 High Street.Replacement render on part of rear elevation.
Membership

Winterbourne Festival 1st – 9th March 2025

Instagram / Facebook / Love our Ouse Website

Sponsored by The Friends of Lewes

Community initiative Love our Ouse and local partners have been awarded funds to deliver a festival on the 1st to the 9th March dedicated to the Winterbourne Stream that flows through Lewes

Read the press release here:

Winterbourne Festival Programme releaseDownload

Volunteer needed – Membership Secretary for The  Friends of Lewes ( Revised Feb 2025)

We need someone to be the Membership Secretary for the Friends of Lewes and to help the FoL with its mission to Keep Lewes Special. 

The Membership Secretary role helps by organising, informing and engaging the membership and plays an important function within the Membership Services Committee  (MSC) which in turn report to the FoL’s Executive Committee.

The role should take approximately 1-2  hours per week with training and ongoing support available and  would suit someone who is reasonably numerate and P.C / I.T literate. You will need to have  access to a P.C or Laptop and ideally a printer/scanner. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed (postage, stationary etc).

As an element of the role involves dealing with personal and financial information, you will need to be conversant with the FoL’s published privacy notice  regarding adherence to  the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018  and be mindful  of security (e.g. avoiding email scams etc).

The key elements of the role are:

Membership Payments

  • Process new membership subscriptions and current members  renewals via the easy-to-use online system Membermojo.
  • Handle a small number of renewal reminders and payments by hand.
  • Provide information on all the payments to the FoL’s Treasurer.
  • Respond to enquiries from members as appropriate.

Membership Levels

  • Provide numerical  information on the  membership to the FoL’s Executive Committee (monthly) and Membership Services Committee (quarterly).
  • Consider any trends and actions and advise the Committees accordingly.
  • Consider how to engage members, and to reflect their interests, feedback and needs.

Optionally, it could be possible to have more than one volunteer join the MSC and thus divide the tasks and reduce the time involved. Interested in arranging  a chat on a non-commitment  basis ?

Please get in touch with Diana Freestone via enquiries@friends-of-lewes.org.uk .

Download description here: https://friends-of-lewes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/fol-mem-sec-role-feb-2025.pdf

Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report – 2nd October 2024

Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 2nd October 2024

01/09/24 to 30/09/24:

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

SDNP/24/02389/LIS: 171-172 High Street. Re-painting of front facade to Wishbone White with the brand name painted in blue.
SDNP/24/03215/HOUS: 21 The Avenue.Replace all front windows
SDNP/24/03593/FUL & SDNP/24/03594/LIS: Flat 1, 2 St Swithuns Lane. Replacement railings to terrace.
SDNP/24/03635/HOUS: 14 Firle Crescent. Replacement single-storey rear extension, two-storey side extension to replace existing garage, replacement porch and roof to bay window and installation.
SDNP/24/03644/LIS: HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Road.Upgrade works to 3no. cells to higher security category
SDNP/24/03655/HOUS: 9 Gundreda Road.Erection of 2 storey rear extension.
SDNP/24/03709/HOUS: 7 Willie Cottages, South Street. Single storey rear extension and a timber bike shed to the front.
SDNP/24/03721/HOUS:  20 Morris Road. Single storey rear extension, demolition of rear lobby, rear dormer in association with loft conversion, solar PV panels to rear extension roof slope and fenestration alterations.
SDNP/24/03739/LIS: 5 North Street. Conversion of shop with flat above into one single dwelling house.
SDNP/24/03878/FUL: Barber Court, St. Pancras Road:Replace all existing white framed double- glazed windows and all curtain wall glazing to the communal areas to be replaced.
SDNP/24/03796/HOUS: 27 St Anne’s Crescent:Erection of shed in front garden.
SDNP/24/03531/CND: 1 Hamsey Crescent:Variation of Condition 2 (plans) relating to Planning Approval SDNP/24/01895/HOUS to include new materials such as corteen steel dormer being hung with plain tiles and removal of render on first floor level.
Membership

Energy Efficiency and Retrofitting Listed Buildings and Older Buildings in Protected Settings. Zoom talk on Tuesday 18th February 2025 at 7.30pm – Alex Moojen

The presentation will address some of the primary issues and questions associated with retrofitting or upgrading listed buildings and older buildings sited in protected settings such as conservation areas:

What can owners do without listed building consent and/ or planning permission?

What are some of the acceptable materials and methodologies?

What permissions might be required?

Where to seek advice?

These are a just a few of the questions that often arise and that can sometimes overwhelm and create confusion with those seeking answers and guidance.

This is an extensive and sometimes complex issue, so the presentation aims to cover some of the more salient points within this topic, and address the more frequent enquiries that are received by the Local Planning Authority. The presentation will be around 30 mins with Q and As welcome afterwards.

Alex has been in post as Conservation Officer for Lewes and the surrounding area for over 2 years since graduating in 2022 from Kent Uni with an MSc in Architectural Conservation. He has relished his first job in conservation in Lewes. The diverse and extensive architectural landscape and the protected Lewes Conservation Area have given him the opportunity to work with a varied and wide array of buildings and applications – all of which have involved him in the challenges of improving energy efficiency and retrofitting older and historic building, both listed and not listed. 

Friends of Lewes Members free, Non members £4 (Via Ticket Source)

Lewes is now a Swift-friendly town!

In September 2024, Lewes Town Council formally approved a proposal from Lewes Swift Supporters to designate Lewes as a Swift-friendly town.

The aims of this initiative are: 

  • To spread the word about Swifts so that more people learn about these marvellous, red-listed birds.
  •  To encourage people to become “biodiversity champions” and take an action, however small, which will help to increase biodiversity across Lewes.

Swifts can be seen as an indicator of good biodiversity – where there is a rich mosaic of biodiverse habitats, there will be Swifts too! The population of Swifts has declined by 58% since 1995. They live in the air and depend on airborne insects and invertebrates for food, but Buglife research estimates that numbers of insects have fallen by 78% since 2004. 

Friends of Lewes have joined with other community groups to lend their support to this project. They have already given direct support through funding the purchase and installation of Swift boxes to expand existing colonies in De Montfort Road. One of these boxes was visited by Swifts in 2024. They also help by monitoring planning applications to safeguard existing nest sites. The trees and hedges planted by the Trees Committee provide food and habitat for a wide range of insects and invertebrates – in the evenings you may often see Swifts circling above trees to hunt for food. 

Find out more about how you may help Swifts:   https://e-voice.org.uk/lewesswiftsupporters/lewes-a-swift-friendly-town/

Email from the Planning Casework Unit (DLUHC) regarding Former Bus Station, East Gate Street, Lewes – SDNP/ 23/02973/FUL

From: PCU <PCU@communities.gov.uk>
Date: 16 September 2024 at 14:16:43 BST
To: enquiries@friends-of-lewes.org.uk
Subject: Former Bus Station, East Gate Street, Lewes – SDNP/ 23/02973/FUL

OFFICIAL

Dear Ms Freestone

I am contacting you to let you know that on 13 September 2024, officials on behalf of the Secretary of State placed a Holding Direction on the above application under Article 31 powers of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.

The Secretary of State has directed South Downs National Park Authority not to grant permission on this application without specific authorisation. This has been issued to allow sufficient time for her to give full consideration to matters raised in requests to call in the application as well as all other relevant matters. The issuing of a Holding Direction should not be taken as an indication as to whether an application will be called in or not.

The matter is currently under consideration, and I will be in touch with an update in due course.

Kind Regards

Planning Casework Unit

OFFICIAL

Friends of Lewes Planning Committee Report – 4th September 2024

Representations made on planning applications following the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 4th September 2024

01/08/24 to 29/08/24:

SDNP/24/02594/HOUS: Knowlands, St Martins Lane: Additions comprising part two storey part three storey extension to side and rear (south) elevations, roof outshot over rear / side entrance, addition of a triangular shaped terrace / balcony to the rear (south) elevation at ground floor level (note this appears as first floor level due to lower level of St Martins Lane), partly wrapping around the side (west elevation). Demolition of garage in front courtyard (fronting Stewards Inn Lane) and construction of flat roof garage / bike store, with a sliding timber door at the front, together with internal alterations.

The Friends of Lewes object to this application as there is insufficient architectural detail provided in support of the proposals. Of particular concern is the proposed use of a rain-screen cladding, which is considered to be inappropriate at this important location within the conservation area. The Society is also concerned about the lack of information regarding any proposed changes to the street scene, which could have a significant impact on immediate neighbours, both in Stewards Inn Lane to the north, and on a number of existing buildings on the east side of St Martins Lane, which overlook the application site.

SDNP/24/03187/HOUS: 7 Willie Cottages, South Street: Replacement Windows.

The Friends of Lewes object to this application as there is insufficient information provided on the detail of the replacement windows.

SDNP/24/03414/HOUS: 3 Hamsey Crescent: 2 storey side extension and loft conversion with rear dormer.

The Friends of Lewes object to this application as it would have an unacceptable impact on the street scene in Hamsey Crescent for the following reasons:-

(1) The proposed front elevation is misleading as the 2 storey side extension would abut no. 5 Hamsey Crescent, which is not illustrated.    

(2) The proposed front porch would be in front of the building line.

(3) The proposed roof to the side extension is considered to be unsatisfactory.

(4) The proposed rear dormer does not comply with the agreed design guidance to construct dormers within existing roofs.

(The Society also would like to comment that the neighbouring no.7 Hamsey Crescent is a good example of better massing of the roof profile).

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

SDNP/24/03072/HUS:  81B Western Road.Rear integral garage conversion including replacement of door with windows, addition of rear door and replacement rear windows.
SDNP/24/03165/HOUS: 22 Ferrers Road.Demolition of existing detached garage to side and conservatory to the rear, addition of single storey side extension, installation of raised garden patio to rear and alterations to rear fenestration.
SDNP/24/03348/LDP: 1 Hamsey Crescent.Erection of rear ground floor extension.
Membership

Civic Voice: Communication received by the FoL regarding the National Planning Policy Framework and the FoL’s responses

The FoL has been contacted by Civic Voice and invited to participate in a survey concerning the NPPF.

Dear Diana,

In the wake of the King’s Speech and recent headlines about the new Government’s planning reforms a widespread debate has emerged.  

Given the extensive feedback we’ve received, Civic Voice is conducting a crucial survey to gather insights from civic societies and communities across England. Input from groups such as The Friends of Lewes is essential as we evaluate your familiarity with these reforms and your potential thoughts on their potential impact on towns, villages, and cities across the UK. The findings will be shared with the new Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycock MP. 

Key Survey Questions include: Do you believe these planning reforms will effectively “get Britain building again” and deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029? Do you perceive a housing crisis in the UK? Please explain your thinking. How would new homes and housing benefit your local area?
How can we ensure that civic societies are seen as part of the solution to local issues, rather than as a NIMBY movement? How can we challenge this perception? Would you be interested in attending further discussions to help shape Civic Voice’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation This survey marks the first phase of Civic Voice’s initiative to support communities. We will be organising further briefings, webinars, and dedicated events to foster continued engagement and provide updates. Civic Voice members should keep in touch with Civic Voice and check our dedicated emails for information.

Why Your Response Matters We need as many civic organisations to respond as possible, as we will be using the information to inform our work with the APPG for Civic Societies. Your feedback is vital in shaping public sentiment and guiding ongoing discussions about these crucial reforms. We will be writing with more information on how you can help the APPG soon. Additionally, we encourage civic societies and community groups to discuss these issues locally to widen engagement on the proposals. 

If you require any further information about the proposals, please do get in touch.

Best wishes, Martin Hamilton Chair of Civic Voice
Civic Voice – FoL response to Housing initiativesDownload