Lewes District Council is asking landowners to come forward if they have sites that could form part of a new local plan. The new Lewes Local Plan, which is commencing preparation, will set the framework for future planning decisions in the District up to 2040.

The Land Availability Assessment (LAA) previously known as the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) is being carried out by the council as part of the preparation of the local plan and will include information about sites that could potentially be used to support future development. 

Development could include housing or commercial uses, and the Council would particularly like to hear about sites that would be suitable for renewable energy including solar and wind farms and green infrastructure. 

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires us to identify and maintain at least a five year supply of deliverable and developable land for housing. The study assesses whether sites submitted to us for housing are either Deliverable (suitable, achievable and available) or Developable (suitable with a reasonable prospect of being available at a specific point in time) for future housing development. 

The LAA is an important technical piece of evidence however the study is not a statement of Council policy and does not in itself determine whether a site should be allocated for development in the next Local Plan nor does it necessarily mean it would be granted planning permission.

The call for sites does not include the part of Lewes District which lies within the South Downs National Park.

Responses must be received by 18 December 2020. You do not need to resubmit sites already submitted for the previous SHELAA, however you can use the questionnaire to amend or add any further information/details. 

Please note that you do not need to log in to submit a completed questionnaire.

If you have any problem with completing the online form, please email us at ldf@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

This consultation has now closed.