Council gives green light to blue light sites for sustainable homes

The old Police Station site and Fire Station land in Newhaven could see new sustainable homes being developed under plans being worked up by Lewes District Council. 

While detailed scheme designs are yet to be produced, the council has ambitions to create a mix of over 30 council houses across both sites, with sustainability central to the design of a mixture of flats and houses.

Councillor William Meyer, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:

“In the same week we launched our new corporate plan for the district, that puts the climate emergency and housing at the heart of everything we do, we announce this incredibly exciting proposal for new council homes.”

Sussex Police and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) vacated their Newhaven premises to move into a shared office at Saxon House. The former Police Station site is in the centre of the town and the old Fire Station is in Fort Road.  The Police and ESFRS are keen to assist the delivery of much needed affordable homes by selling their land to Lewes District Council.

Councillor Meyer added:

“I am hopeful we will be able to design, gain planning consent and consider a fully costed development at Cabinet, before the end of the year.

“The Newhaven Neighbourhood Plan has identified the police station for residential development and an old planning consent on the fire station means that we should get these homes built and residents living in them, much sooner than typical housing schemes.”

Councillor James MacCleary, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Prosperity, said: 

“It will be fantastic to see the old Police station given a new lease of life.  These are two prominent sites that have stood vacant for too long.

“As a Newhaven resident I am ambitious for our town and these sites have been neglected, but not anymore.  This is great news for the town.”

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