New Newhaven community hub plans approved

On Wednesday (December 16), Lewes District Council planners approved proposals to create a community space on land between the Railway Club and the UTC building by installing up to 10 timber-clad shipping containers on site. 

According to the application, which is from Lewes District Council itself, the shipping containers would be converted into buildings providing tourist information and refreshments.

The scheme was approved unanimously by the committee, although some councillors did raise concerns about elements of it.

Among those to raise concerns was Cllr Imogen Makepeace (Green, Lewes Priory), who said: “I wanted to really be enthusiastic about this. I think it is a great use of the land and I think that we may very well start to see little businesses perhaps come in there. People hiring bicycles or repairing bicycles, that sort of thing. 

“The one thing I am concerned about is highways pointing out that they aren’t prepared to do anything about pedestrian or safe access to the site because of its temporary nature. 

“Temporary meaning five years means that is quite a lot of time for it to be a confusing and difficult place for people to get to, especially as we are considering it as an active travel site.

“I understand that there is a pause in the expectation that there will be decent pedestrian and cycle access to, but I regret that it will take them five years of this location being used – and I am sure it will be used well – before they do anything about it.”

Concerns were also raised by Cllr Tom Jones (Con, Ditchling and Westmeston), who felt some areas of the application were a little light on details.

He said: “I would like to have a much more confident view of when we are going to start the building and how long it is going to take. I know this is difficult at the moment.

“Lewes District Council are the applicants for this site. That is not to say that Lewes District are the ones which are going to provide all the funding for this, presumably we will be going out for funding invites.

“But I think it is a great idea, I am fully supportive of it, but when are we going to start? When is it going to finish? [I would like a] much clearer idea of the various stages, which are going to come into being.

“It is just this uncertainty. I would hate to think that in three years time we are still talking about what is going to be there exactly and how it is going to be used.”

In response officers confirmed that the “application had been a bit rushed” as a result of a need to secure funding, with some details of the project (such as timing) still to be confirmed. 

However, officers said this would not be a planning issue as members were considering the use of site.

Officers added that investment into cycle and pedestrian links could follow if the site proves to be successful.

More details around the funding were given by Cllr Graham Amy (Lib Dem, Newhaven South).

Cllr Amy said: “I don’t know if Cllr Jones is aware that this money that has been given by the government and it has to be spent by March 31.

“That is why it has gone in for planning now and it is quite an advanced scheme. I think basically January will start us working on this particular scheme.”

Following further discussion the application was unanimously approved.

The scheme has already been approved by the Newhaven Town Funds Board, which also agreed a £500k capital grant to support the site’s development.

The Newhaven Town Funds Board included representatives from Newhaven Town Council, Lewes District Council, East Sussex County Council, and a number of key community organisations such as the Newhaven Port Authority.

Initially, only five containers will be installed on site, with two bolted together to form a refreshment building. Two separate containers will be used as “Active Transport Hubs” and a with a final standalone single providing tourist information.

Three “geodomes” will then be erected to cover an area of decking between the containers.

Further containers may be placed on the site in future, which would act as workshop space.

It is thought the buildings would remain on site for five years, the application says.

For further information on the proposals see application reference LW/20/0702 on the Lewes District Council website.