September 30th, 2020.


Lewes District Council is asking landowners to come forward if they have sites that could form part of a new local plan. The new Lewes Local Plan, which is commencing preparation, will set the framework for future planning decisions in the District up to 2040.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Councillor Emily O’Brien, explained: “The government is instructing us to build far more residential units than we have ever done in the past and this is part of this ‘call for sites’. But this isn’t only about housing, it’s about how we plan the best future for our District that we can.”

The Land Availability Assessment being carried out by the council is part of the preparation of the local plan and will include information about sites that could potentially be used to support future development.

Development could include housing or commercial uses, and the Council would particularly like to hear about sites that would be suitable for renewable energy including solar and wind farms and green infrastructure.

Cllr O’Brien added: “By submitting a site to be considered, this doesn’t decide whether it should be allocated for development in the next Local Plan or mean that it would be granted planning permission, but it does give us vital knowledge of sites that could be considered for development in the future.”

Sites can be submitted online from now until December 18 on the council's website HERE.

The area does not include the part of the district that lies within the South Downs National Park.