28 November 2006: Shaping the future of the North Street area in Lewes

Lewes District Council is to set out its planning vision for an important area of Lewes, which is likely to be the subject of major redevelopment proposals.

The Council is launching a process whereby, over the next few months, the future of the North Street area will be discussed with key stakeholders, such as local community groups and business, environmental and cultural  interests.

The area is the subject of the "Phoenix Quarter" development proposals, being prepared by Angel Properties, who will also be involved in the process.

A ‘Planning Vision’ for the area will be prepared. This will set out how the Council, as the local planning authority, see the future of this large and important site.

The Planning Vision will feed into the new Local Development Framework (LDF) for the Lewes District, which the Council is drawing up and which will guide development in the area over the next twenty years or so. It will also provide a basis for the consideration of any future planning applications.

“The North Street area could play an important role in providing more sustainable development over coming years.  As local planning authority, the District Council needs to take a leading role in setting a framework for development which best meets local needs” said Councillor David Neighbour, Lewes District Council Lead Member for Planning.

“We plan to work with key stakeholders to develop a Planning Vision for the area, covering key issues for the town and district, including flood defence, transport, housing, employment, climate change and sustainability. We aim to build a broad consensus on the contribution the site can make to the future development needs of Lewes and the wider area. This will include discussions with both local community groups and developers”.

“We are looking to produce a compact and readable document, which will enable us to carry forward our LDF work and also give us a better framework for considering any future planning applications in the area” said Councillor Neighbour.

Ends/

Notes to Editors:

A great deal of background work has already been done by the District Council, for example, the shopping, employment and housing studies carried out for the LDF.  This – together with work done by the Environment Agency on flood risk, the County Council on transport issues, and by Angel Properties on their Phoenix Quarter proposals – gives a good springboard for developing a Planning Vision for this important site.

Further information about the Planning Vision for the North Street Area is available from Lindsay Frost, Lewes District Council Director of Planning and  Environmental Services,  tel:  01273 484437 or email .

Media enquiries to Lewes District Council Press Office, tel: 01273 484141.