Jam Factory news-flash - big turn-out on 5th June - decision deferred yet again, to July 2007.

Angel Property's Planning Application delayed again

The potential application date has again been shunted back, this time to August /September 2007, with an application for the Malling Brooks site expected in a couple of weeks, as of the 16th May.
 
There has been much speculation and debate on our discussion forum concerning the degree and nature of Lewes District Council's involvement with Angel Property, firstly in the light of the planning quagmire in which Angel and Southwark Council currently find themselves over the Jam Factory development - finally to be decided today at a Special Session of Southwark's Planning Committee (click to visit Jam Factory Residents Association website - http://www.myjamfactory.com/) and secondly due to LDC's pre-election announcement that it had no intention of selling its considerable land holdings in the North Street area to Angel Property.

It has been suggested that a request be made under the Freedom of Information Act, to ascertain what negotiations have taken place between LDC and Angel Property over the potential development of the North Street site.

Lewes Matters did make that request several months ago, the results of which we will publish in due course. It must be said however, that what we received was limited and sheds no light as to whether Angel Property were encouraged at any point, from when first they approached LDC in late 2004, to believe that the Council were in principle well disposed to selling their land for this scheme, and if so, what has subsequently changed their minds.
 
What is clear is that from the limited documents we have seen, discussions between LDC Planning Officers and Angel Property follow the clear guidelines that could be expected for a large planning application, i.e. formal responses to Environmental Impact Assessment drafts etc. (some of which can be found in our Reports section).

In 2006 we wrote to Lindsay Frost, Director of Planning & Environmental Services, seeking clarification on the role of ATLAS - Advisory Team for Large Applications, in determining how the progress of this application should be handled. His response can be read again by clicking here. The draft ATLAS report itself ( ATLAS report) can also be found in the Reports section.
 
The 'stakeholders' visioning process for the North St area that took place in the early part of this year, was a direct result, we believe, of advice given in the Atlas report. Incidentally, on this point we have written to Lindsay Frost to ascertain whether the stakeholders will be brought in at the tail end of this process, to review and comment on the Planning Vision for the North St Area which will prove to be a crucial document, if Angel's proposals fail, in providing a framework for any other applicant in the future. We will publish a response as and when we have it.
 
Further monthly meetings between LDC and Angel have followed the Stakeholder process and these can be viewed on the LDC website (http://www.lewes.gov.uk/environment/10483.asp). The most recent meeting in May can be read here ( Latest Monthly Meeting).

Note that Cllr David Neighbour (Lead Councillor for Planning) was not re-elected at the District Council elections on May 3rd 2007. Cllr Peter Gardiner (Liberal Democrat, Ouse Valley and Ringmer Ward) was appointed the new Lead Councillor for Planning by the Council on May 23rd 2007.