The former 0.5 acre Lewes Bus Station on Eastgate Street in the heart of the town is being offered for sale at a guide price of £3m.
Permission had been granted for its demolition and redevelopment to include 35 new homes, comprising 22 two bed flats, four three bed flats and three three bed townhouses. There would also be 198 square metres of commercial space providing, agents say, 'a well positioned scheme within a prominent gateway location' and 'surrounded by established amenities and major regeneration projects.' It's also described as an opportunity for developers and investors to deliver 'a consented mixed use scheme in one of East Sussex's most sought-after market towns.' The total property size is 11,590 square feet and it came onto the market on September 9.
The scheme would be constructed across two linked buildings on both Eastgate and East streets. It would include parking for 17 cars and a communal roof terrace.
Since it closed to buses in 2022, the potential use of the site has been the subject of protests from both councillors and townspeople. They said suitable alternative facilities should be provided before it ceased operation. And as part of the new plans, a financial contribution has been agreed towards the provision of two new bus stops on Phoenix Causeway.
Cllr Imogen Makepiece, Mayor of Lewes in 2024, said residents felt 'abandoned' over the redevelopment and the bus station was designated an asset of community value. There was also a judicial review against the proposal but this was defeated. The redevelopment scheme was ultimately approved by the South Downs National Park planning authority.
Agents Oakley Properties say the scheme has been 'attractively and sympathetically designed to reinvigorate the derelict site and breathe new life into the town centre.' It's described as a 'rare freehold mixed-use development opportunity.'
But speaking to the Express this week, Cllr Kevin West, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Lewes Priory Ward, said:“The bus station site should never have been allowed to fall into private hands, and we are now living with the consequences. The so‑called ‘alternatives’ being put forward are neither safe nor realistic — they rely on Section 106 money from three separate developments that may never be built. Lewes needs reliable, safe public transport at its heart, not a patchwork of hypothetical schemes that may never materialise.
“Across parties and with committed local residents, we are developing a Master Plan for Lewes that puts active travel, safe routes for children, and proper public transport at the centre of how our town works. With the price now reduced from over £4m to £3 million, Lewes District Council and East Sussex County Council must finally work together to buy back this site, reopen our bus station, and deliver desperately needed council housing on the old garage land. This is a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to put public need ahead of private profit, and we cannot afford to miss it.”
Lewes Town councillor, Janet Baah is actively campaigning with the National Park to ensure any replacement bus station offers the same facilities as those provided by the much-missed bus station. She is most concerned about the loss of a critical facility that helped bus drivers and bus company staff rest, exchange services, meet and operate a complex interlocked system of bus journeys on an hourly basis.
She said: "There was a rest room and cafe. Many of these services, for example the ones heading to Tunbridge Wells or Eastbourne, are long distance and for safety's sake the drivers need an interim space where they can use the loos, exchange services or take a break. I worry about their safety.
"We are also monitoring the pollution at the bottom of School Hill where buses line up at two stops to take on passengers. It has risen sharply. There are also problems for people waiting at the roadside there, particularly if they are wheelchair bound, it is difficult for them to get onto a bus. There is confusion also about exactly where some specific buses stop, for example outside Waitrose.
"The Town Council opposed the closures and we also believe any new apartments will block the views for existing residents of Lewes."