The Lewes District Council Planning Applications Committee is scheduled to meet on 1 October 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including the demolition of a public house to make way for flats, and the installation of solar panels on bungalows in the South Downs National Park. The committee will also look at an application to vary the approved plans for the renovation of Shakespeare Hall and the cricket pavilion at Fort Road Recreation Ground.

Planning Application: Dewdrop Inn, Peacehaven

The committee will be considering a planning application, LW/25/0224, for the demolition of the Dewdrop Inn, a public house on Steyning Avenue, Peacehaven, and the erection of a flatted development. The proposed development from Blue Skies Brighton Ltd would provide 14 flats and flexible community/office space at ground floor level, plus off-street vehicular parking, cycle and refuse storage, and soft landscaping. The planning officer’s recommendation is conditional approval subject to a Section 106 legal agreement¹. The report pack notes several benefits of the proposed development:

• The development site is in a sustainable location.
• The design of the building is appropriate for its setting.
• The development would provide good quality internal space, outdoor amenity space and parking facilities.
• The amenities of neighbouring residents would be preserved.
• The proposed development would make efficient use of previously developed land.
• The development would provide 14 new dwellings.
• The proposed development makes use of a brownfield site.
• The development would provide construction jobs in the short term.

The report pack also notes that the development would result in the loss of an existing community facility in the form of the public house, but that this would be compensated for through the provision of new community space on the ground floor level. The report pack says that Peacehaven Town Council has objected to the proposal on the grounds of overdevelopment, poor design, impact on biodiversity, and the fact that the public house has been subject to a nomination as an asset of community value. 36 letters of objection have been received, raising concerns about overdevelopment, height, character, loss of a historic building, impact on wildlife, lack of affordable housing, parking issues, increased traffic, drainage issues and a lack of infrastructure.

The report pack notes that the site is regarded as 'previously developed' or brownfield land, and that paragraph 125 c) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that planning decisions should give substantial weight to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements for homes and other identified needs . The report pack also notes that public houses are listed as an example of a community facility in the NPPF, and that paragraph 98 of the NPPF states that planning decisions should guard against the unnecessary loss of valued facilities and services.

The report pack says that the applicant has submitted a Financial Viability Assessment (FVA), which concludes that it would not be possible for any affordable housing to be delivered as this would render the development unviable. The FVA has been independently reviewed by a qualified assessor, who has found that the scheme is viable, but with no surplus available for affordable housing.

Planning Application: Fort Road Recreation Ground, Newhaven

The committee will also be considering a planning application, LW/25/0458, to vary condition 1 (approved plans) relating to a previous approval, LW/24/0620, for alterations to Shakespeare Hall and the cricket pavilion at Fort Road Recreation Ground, Newhaven. The applicant is Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils. The proposed variations are:

• Alternative cladding to Shakespeare Hall.
• Adjustments to fenestration.
• Retaining existing roofs.

The planning officer’s recommendation is conditional approval subject to conditions and subject to no additional material matters being introduced through public representations prior to the expiry of the statutory consultation period on 9 October 2025.

The report pack says that the proposed amendments are considered to be cosmetic in nature, and that they would not materially diminish the quality of the approved development. The report pack also says that the proposed alterations to the ground floor layout are material in that they have dictated the revisions to the building fenestrations.

Planning Application: School Bungalows, Bostal Road, Firle

The committee will be considering a planning application, SDNP/25/01672/FUL, for the installation of PV panels to pitched roofs and replacement of existing roof covering with new concrete tiles to 5no bungalows at School Bungalows, Bostal Road, Firle. The applicant is Lewes District Council. The planning officer’s recommendation is approval subject to conditions.

The report pack notes that properties 1, 3, and 4 are within the Firle Conservation Area, and that properties 5 and 7 are not within the Conservation Area but form part of its setting. The report pack also notes that Firle Church of England Primary School and School House, a Grade II Listed Building, is nearby.

The report pack says that Firle Parish Council has a neutral view on the application. The Conservation Officer has said that the application can be supported, subject to confirmation that the proposed solar panels are black with black surrounds and black panel mounting kit. The Conservation Officer also said that the proposals will result in less than substantial harm to the character and appearance of the Firle Conservation Area and the setting of the Conservation Area, and will have a neutral impact on the setting of the Grade II Listed building, and that any possible minimal harm is outweighed by the public benefit of sustainable green energy production.

Planning Application: 50 South Street, Lewes

The committee will be considering a planning application, SDNP/25/00957/HOUS, for the replacement of 6no windows and 1no door at 50 South Street, Lewes. The applicant is Lewes District Council. The planning officer’s recommendation is approval subject to conditions.

The report pack notes that the application property is a terraced dwelling located on the south-west side of South Street, and that it is within the Lewes Conservation Area and subject to the Lewes Article 4 Direction². The report pack says that Lewes Town Council made a neutral comment, noting that there is insufficient information in the application and timber windows would be preferred. The Conservation Officer has no objection subject to comments about the design and materials of the windows and door. The Lewes Conservation Area Advisory Group (Lewes CAAG) noted that the replacement of the rear windows with uPVC is not desirable, and timber or metal would be preferred.