Councillors have approved the fourth public consultation on the draft Lewes District Local Plan, which marks a critical step in setting the future development strategy for the district.
Local Plans seek to guide future development in the district, setting out policies for housing, jobs, infrastructure and the environment, acting as the main document for determining planning applications to ensure sustainable, planned growth. They provide a long-term version, detailing where development should happen (and where it should be restricted), and covers needs like new homes, education, employment and green spaces.
A key aspect of a Local Plan is identifying housing need and demonstrating how and where this can be accommodated within the district. Housing need is the unconstrainted, evidence-based calculation of the minimum number of new homes a local area requires to meet the projected housing growth and past under-supply, determined using a national ‘standard method’ formula. For Lewes, based on the Government’s formula for calculating housing need, the district is required to plan for approximately 15,000 homes over the plan period ending in 2042 for its plan area.
However, the Council’s spatial strategy, as set out in the new Local Plan, is only able to identify a housing requirement of approximately 8,570 new homes during this period. The Council state that this figure is based on evidence and reflects the constraints impact the local plan area, such as borders with the South Downs National Park and the sea.
The Leader of Lewes District Council, stated: “We are consulting with our community on the next phase of the Local Plan, and remain clear that without major change in government policy and significant financial commitment, the top-down national formula target is entirely unreasonable… Our position is underpinned by the most thorough analysis, and we urge everyone to contribute to the consultation to ensure all voices are heard.”
This shows firsthand the conflicting debate between housing development and preserving the countryside which centres on the urgent need to address the housing crisis verses protecting the natural environment and character of rural communities.
The consultant period for the new Local plan runs from 17th December until the 28th February 2026.
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