Lewes Local Plan Review
Lewes District Council is preparing its new Local Plan with the aim of providing the planning framework for our plan area to 2040.
The new Local Plan will aim to ensure sure that the plan area provides the homes, jobs, community facilities and services to meet the needs of people living, working in and visiting the plan area in a sustainable manner.
On 11 December a proposal for a revised Lewes Local Plan is due to be presented to District Councillors, if accepted consultation will open shortly. THE CONSULTATION IS NOW OPEN AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THERE IS AS HIGH A RESPONSE FROM AS MANY OF OUR NEWICK RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE. This is because when the Plan goes to a Planning Inspector for review, they will be looking at the level of public support for the Plan.
HOW AM I AND NEWICK AFFECTED?
Uncontrolled development due to the lack of an in-date Local Plan is of concern and we urgently need a new one. The proposal is a new approach to development that emphasises location, infrastructure needs, the environment and transport in identifying new sites within Lewes District. It states:
- Growth in Countryside locations is to be protected from landscape or ecological harm.
- Development is to be to be concentrated on and around Tier 1 and 2 settlements where public transport and active travel can provide realistic alternatives to the car – Newick is Tier 3:
- Briefly, development proposals must demonstrate how they prioritise transport solutions in the following order: -Walking, Wheeling, Cycling – Public Transport – Shared Mobility – Private Motor Vehicles
- Also:
Local Plan allocations shall
- a) Provide or enable early delivery of good public transport and active-travel connections.
- b)Strategic allocations must incorporate comprehensive walking, cycling, and
- c)Strategic allocations must incorporate comprehensive walking, cycling, and
- d)Mobility-hub infrastructure, linking homes, services, and employment areas
- e)Development that prejudices sustainable transport networks or increases car dependency will not be supported.
The new policies result in Newick having no new site allocations beyond those already having planning approval. These are in Allington Road and on the High Street and total 24 in number.
Development sites have been concentrated on areas with good walking, cycling, bus and rinks links as per the plan.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?
Newick Parish Council is hosting an informal drop in session on Saturday 7th February between 10am and 1pm at Newick Community Centre. Lewes District Council is hosting a consultation event in Cooksbridge on 26th January, details will be confirmed on the consultation home page.
How do I participate?
The consultation portal can be found here A Spatial Strategy for Development and Site Allocations – Lewes Local Plan – Lewes and Eastbourne Planning Policy Consultations
