To:  All those who have campaigned over the development at the former magistrates court in Lewes and to those who have supported the Lewes Repertory Theatre including signing the petition and making donations, – THANK YOU!

Join us for an early evening get-together by way of a ‘Christmas Social’ on TONIGHT from 6:30 pm at the Westgate Chapel, in Lewes High Street. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be on sale. Entrance is free – it will just be an opportunity for us to thank you for your support and for everyone to have some Christmas cheer and to socialise!

Click here for directions etc

It has been a long hard road. Sadly we haven’t succeeded as you may have seen from the Sussex Express. It seems the developer and the officers of the National Park finally swayed the members at their meeting over in Midhurst on Thursday last week. There will be important things to keep track of once the demolition and construction project starts but for now let’s turn to the festive season…..

Lewes House Site, Friars Walk – 19 September 2014:

Redevelopment to provide 25 residential units and associated open space, car parking, access and landscaping. Here is a copy of the west elevation plan:

Here is a copy of the site plan:

For detailed information go to the SDNPA Planning web site  and search for:

SDNP/14/01199/FUL

Falcon Wharf – 18 September 2014: Demolition of existing commercial building and erection of a terrace of seven residential houses – Falcon Wharf Railway Lane Lewes East Sussex. What is there now:

What the National Park has approved:

For detailed information go to the SDNPA Planning web site  and search for:

SDNP/14/00102/FUL

Call for a public enquiry into what should be developed at the former Magistrates’ Court in Lewes by a senior planning professional, Michael Parfect. He is  a retired member of Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Town Planning Institute and retired senior planning officer who worked in Surrey, Lewes and East Sussex planning departments. and who also co-authored a book “Planning for Urban Quality”  He makes some very good points – I wonder if today’s modern planning officers at the SDNPA will listen?

Click here to see Michael’s letter to the Sussex Express

Planning officers at the National Park will be finalising their recommendation from the 26^th September ready for the Planning Committee meeting on the 9^th October 2014. Not long now, so please send your comments in.

Lewes Repertory Theatre held a successful public meeting on Monday, 18th of August in Lewes where they explained their proposals behind the planning application for the disused Magistrates Court in Friars Walk, Lewes.

The group have widespread support in the local community with many members of the public writing in to the South Downs National Park Authority giving their support. Also the Lewes Town Council, the South Downs Society & the Lewes Conservation Area Advisory Group have written in giving their support to the scheme.

Comments shoud be made direct to the SDNPA by the 25th August (next Monday) so there isn’t much time. Please support the theatre group’s application:

The application, (SDNP/14/03805/FUL) can be seen and comments registered on the SDNPA web site (http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning ).

New Plans have been submitted to the National Park by the developer of the old Lewes Magistrates’ Court. The #SDNPA are asking for comments by the 23rd July. Please have a look at them on:

http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning/search

Put in The planning application number: SDNP/14/01650/FUL

Even if you have already made comments it is important you update your views as the planning officers may disregard comments made before these revised plans. Thank you.

Here is the link to the Sussex Express article:

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/local/new-look-to-come-on-lewes-hotel-plan-1-6146486