Update on Lewes planning – Frequently Asked Questions
How have planning decisions been made in Lewes District until now and what changes will we see from 1 April next year?
Since the creation of the National Park in 2011, the South Downs National Park Authority has been responsible for planning across the entire National Park.
The SDNPA adopted the award-winning Local Plan in 2019, and all applications across the National Park are assessed against these policies in the same way, regardless of which team process an application.
The SDNPA is one of the largest Planning Authorities in the country, covering 15 different council areas. All applications within 11 council areas are already processed by the SDNPA directly. However, the SDNPA work closely with four councils to deliver the Planning Service on our behalf in their area.
Lewes District Council have been working on the National Park’s behalf since the creation of the National Park. This means that a team at Lewes focus on SDNPA applications, and assess them against the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans. All major and significant applications in Lewes District are already processed directly by the SDNPA, with decisions being made by the SDNPA Planning Committee.
On 1 April 2026, all applications in the Lewes District will be processed by the SDNPA directly, instead of a proportion of them being processed on our behalf at Lewes District Council.
Applications will go through the same processes we have currently and the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans will continue to apply in the same way. There will be no changes to the way we consult with local residents, the Town Council and others.
Contact information for officers will change, but we will make sure you are aware of how to contact us and find the information you need.
Why is the contract coming to an end and not being renewed?
When the National Park was created, the SDNPA worked with a large number of councils to deliver planning services on our behalf. Over time, the planning service within many council areas has been returned to the SDNPA and this is sometimes referred to as a ‘recovery’.
There have been a number of contracts between LDC and the SDNPA since the creation of the National Park, and we have worked closely together to ensure the Planning Service in the area meets customer needs and reflects the special nature of Lewes.
Our current contract is coming to an end and we have agreed together that we will not enter into a new long-term contract, but instead work together to ensure that the planning service returns to the SDNPA in an ordered and efficient way.
Will this change the way my planning application is assessed?
No. The SDNPA team at Lewes work on applications in the same way as all other parts of the National Park, and this means that when the SDNPA handle the applications directly there will be no noticeable changes. The Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans continue to apply and neighbours, the Town Council and others will still be consulted in the same way.
The SDNPA are aware of the unique nature of planning issues in and around Lewes and the interest they can generate. We’re keen to ensure that planning delivers the best results for the people of Lewes and the National Park.
Will decisions still be made in Lewes?
As the largest town in the National Park, we are looking at options to establish an area for the team to work from in Lewes. We will confirm details in due course once we work through the practicalities, but know how important it is to have a presence in the town.
When cases are to be decided by Committee, they will be decided by the SDNPA Committee, rather than some of the smaller applications being decided by the Committee at LDC as is currently the case.
For the larger, significant applications already processed by the SDNPA, we have previously held Committees in Lewes and we are looking at the best venues to do that.
There may be some smaller cases which are decided by the Committee at the National Park Authority’s head office in Midhurst, but we will always communicate this with you moving forward.
Will this slow down the planning process?
No. There will be no changes to the experience of applicants and the public. Applications will be processed in the same way as they are now, by an SDNPA team dedicated to serving Lewes and the surrounding area.