Massive riverside development scaled down

The developer behind the Phoenix Industrial Estate bid has unveiled his latest proposals which include 600 homes, shops, offices, a restaurant, cinema, arts space and a bridge crossing to Tesco.

This is 175 fewer homes than were outlined in a plan put forward last year. Charles Style, the Lewes-based director of Angel Property, said the number of homes had not been cut due to public criticism.

The total number of homes is not opposed by the Friends of Lewes but it does have concerns over the appearance and size of the buildings. Mr Style said the homes were needed to revitalise Lewes and would be spread over a large area.

He told the Express: 'We are not talking about thousands of new homes, this is an area of about 16 acres and the town will benefit from the homes.

'People shouldn't be afraid of this, it will be a new area for a next generation of Lewesians.

'This town has expanded in the past and it's going to expand again.'

Mr Style was not able to say how the 600 homes would be broken down into flats or houses, but said there would be a larger percentage of 'family accommodation' than in the previous application. He believed 1,000 jobs could be created by the development.

A proposal to put a cinema in North Street, on land owned by Lewes District Council, has been scrapped.

It may now be sited on the riverside opposite Tesco. Mr Style said: 'We had a lot of criticism from the public because people felt because we didn't own the land at the back of the development.

'The cinema and arts space is an important thing for the town and we are now trying to focus everything on the riverside and create a good night-time area.'

He said a cinema operator was interested in running a two-screen 400 seat cinema.

The proposed bridge has also been moved closer to this area and would cross the Ouse directly opposite Tesco. Critics have opposed the idea of building new homes on a flood plain but Mr Style said all homes would be built one storey from the ground and be further protected by a flood wall which would benefit to the whole town.

He said: 'We have been in negotiation with the Environment Agency about how to protect the whole area. The town needs these defences.'

Lewes Town Council members were given a presentation of the plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

After the meeting Cllr Merlin Milner said: 'It looks interesting but we would need to see the details of the various reports he has commissioned before we could comment.

'It is encouraging to see changes being made to the plan which is changing to accommodate the input from the various people. But the proof is going to be in the detail and we look forward to seeing the final report.'

Similar presentations are planned for the Friends of Lewes and Lewes Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Style hopes to stage a public exhibition in March before a final application is registered with the district council.

The developer has also already registered an application for an industrial development and 70 space long stay car park at Malling Brooks where a number of North Street businesses may relocate.

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