Lewes Planning Group Update
The Lewes Planning Group (LPG), including Cycle Lewes, is preparing a ‘Masterplan’ (to be named the ‘Lewes Town Plan’) for Lewes with the aim of influencing planning and development in and around Lewes for the next 15 - 20 years. The LPG is working closely with the National Park and Town Council (and the County Council as best we can) in this endeavour.
The South Downs Local Plan includes proposals for building around 1,500 new homes. We believe that if this development is allowed to happen in the existing ‘business-as-usual’ way it will have an adverse impact on the town in a wide variety of ways.
Our Masterplan seeks to take a comprehensive and co-ordinated look at these opportunities and ensure that the development meets the expressed needs of the town (genuinely affordable housing, employment space, investment in active travel and public transport). The plan includes an integrated package of infrastructure improvements to address transport, water services, social facilities and other issues.
Why is this important for cyclists?
The streets (and footways) of Lewes are already dominated by cars and other motor vehicles. With 1,500 new homes planned the noise, pollution and congestion generated by these vehicles could get considerably worse. And that will make life even more difficult for cyclists. However, a co-ordinated approach to future development with sustainability at its heart presents an opportunity to create a town where walkers, wheelers, cyclists and public transport users are given greater priority. That is one of our aims.
The LPG has been meeting for a year now and has produced a first draft of a Masterplan, including a ‘movement strategy’ specifically on transport, following an extensive engagement process last October (see Cycle Lewes newsletter November 2025).
In the last few weeks we have taken a few significant steps:
Firstly, we have agreed to call the Masterplan the ‘Lewes Town Plan’ - given that it what it is, a plan for the town of Lewes. We think this will make more sense to the residents of the town.
We have produced a short note that seeks to explain the relationship between the South Downs Local Plan, the Lewes Neighbourhood Development Plan, and the Lewes Town Plan.
Secondly, we are currently re-drafting the document to more closely align with the interests of the Planning Inspector (who will review the South Downs Local Plan early next year and the Lewes Town Plan as part of that process) and future Mayor for Sussex (who will have access to resources that can be used to invest in development and infrastructure in the town).
Our aim is that the Lewes Town Plan becomes less of a document for the town and more of a document from the town. The Plan will detail what residents of Lewes say should be developed on key strategic sites and the infrastructure that needs to be provided to ensure such development makes for a better town.
The Lewes Planning Group believe this is a once in a generation opportunity to influence Lewes for the better. Please support us in our endeavours.
We are planning wider public engagement and consultation on the Lewes Town Plan in the autumn and details of this will be posted in future Cycle Lewes newsletters.