Fire at former Lewes school site confirmed as arson

Four fire engines were sent to the former St Annes School in Rotten Row in Lewes on Monday (February 10).

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service said: “Four crews from Lewes, Preston Circus and Barcombe, attended this incident.

“Following a fire investigation, the cause was found to be deliberate ignition.

“Crews carried out a systematic search of the property to ensure that there was no-one inside the building.”

Sussex Police confirmed it was investgating the fire at the derelict building which is owned by East Sussex County Council.

A spokesman said: “The fire service have reported to us that a fire in an unoccupied former school, St Anne’s School in Rotten Row, Lewes, on Monday morning (February 10), was caused deliberately.

“Police have been investigating. Anyone with information can contact the police online at www.sussex.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us or by calling 101, quoting serial 537 of 10/02.”

In May last year, we reported that The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) website was quoting proposals for 47 homes at the former St Anne’s School site in its pre-application notes.

Although the county council was quick to state that this would be subject to a full consultation first, it marked the beginning of the end of a long battle to keep the four-acre site for use by the local community.

In 2012, it was announced by ESCC that – in keeping with the views of local people – the site would be sold for community use only and not for housing.

It was followed in 2013 by a controversial plan to grant the lease of the derelict school site to the SUBUD organisation to develop a community facility.

This collapsed in 2016 as contract negotiations, which were valued at £2.75m, were terminated.

The county council confirmed that there was no damage to the structure of the old school building, which remains empty.

Commenting on the future of the site, a spokesman said: “We are working to develop options for the future use of the site in support of local plans and priorities, and recognising the communities surrounding the site.

“While we progress future options, we are maintaining appropriate security measures on a site that is private land and clearly secured with fencing and signage.”