Lewes Planning Group

 

Lewes Planning Group is a community group set up to help ensure that future development In Lewes properly reflects the needs, wants and concerns of the town.

 

Its primary focus is the creation of a town-wide Lewes Masterplan to be incorporated into a set of special planning policies for Lewes within the legally-binding South Downs Local Plan, which guides all development in the South Downs National Park.

 

The current steering group and management team comprise representatives from local community groups that are active in planning and conservation issues, town councillors, and individuals with professional backgrounds in planning and development.

 

Membership is open to anyone in the town interested in planning and development. Email to learn more.

Explains the background to the creation of the Lewes Planning Group and the case for creating a Masterplan for Lewes

 

This report summarises the planning needs and priorities for Lewes identified at an intensive all-day workshop of local people representing councils, the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), neighbourhood representatives, traders and business, other service providers, and civic, community and other special interest groups. Marginalised voices such as those of young people, people struggling economically, black and minority ethnic people, older people, people with disabilities, families with young children were also included through a programme of outreach. 

 

The workshop concluded that future development in the town should address specific housing needs and priorities, promote local employment opportunities, reduce car dependence, promote more active travel, build community cohesion, harvest natural resources whilst preserving scarce finite resources, and most particularly be developed in close co-operation with the existing residents and businesses of the town from all sectors of the community.

 

The Lewes Draft Masterplan Report suggests amplifications and changes to the policies contained in the Reg 18 draft Local Plan, and the LCWIP where appropriate, followed by specific proposals for the major and / or allocated sites in Lewes.  The report concludes with some innovative proposals related to a potential delivery model aimed at getting appropriate development underway in Lewes in a timely fashion.