People urged to take part in 'crucial' Local Plan consultation

The consultation, which was launched this week and runs until February 28, 2025, focuses on detailed policies and will consider sites within towns and a limited number of villages. The second phase will be held later in 2025 and have a greater emphasis on more rural parts of the district, while also re-evaluating areas considered during phase one.

Local plans set out where future development will take place, such as new homes and locations for business growth, as well the local policy requirements against which future planning applications will be judged.

Councillor Laurence O'Connor, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: "This is a crucial stage in the development of our Local Plan, and we are urging as many residents as possible to take part in the consultation.

"We have organised a programme of online and in-person events across the district to make it as easy as possible for people to get involved."

To view the consultation documents and submit your comments online visit www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/lewes-local-plan. Here, you can also see the various ways to participate in the consultation including joining an online webinar and Q&A session on Tuesday, January 14, from 5pm to 6.30pm and visiting an unstaffed exhibition at The Marine Workshops in Newhaven from February 3 to 27 (this will be open from 9am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays, and 9am to 3pm on Saturdays). A series of drop-in events are also being held across the district during January and February (see details below).

Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council, added: "Thank you to all the thousands of people who have already contributed to Local Plan discussions, now we need everyone to engage with us again to ensure that our Local Plan reflects the needs and aspirations of our communities.

"This is particularly important in the face of government proposals for new housing targets which are entirely unrealistic and threaten our district's beautiful green spaces."

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