Lewes "North Street Quarter" Sale To Local Developer Set To Go Ahead

A large and controversy-filled development site in Lewes is set to be sold to a new owner, who's promising to revise earlier plans, which have remained unbuilt, to give "greater viability, liveability and to be fit to meet the challenges of the climate crisis."

Lewes District Council announced this evening (December 2) that Mas Rei, the current landowner of the North Street Quarter (NSQ) in Lewes, has agreed heads of terms with the developer Human Nature for the sale of the site.

Cabinet councillors at Lewes District Council will meet next week (December 10) to also consider the sale of the council's share in NSQ to Human Nature.

Human Nature hopes to complete the purchase on NSQ by February, shortly before launching a community design event in the Spring 2021.

The site is believed to be one of the largest-ever development sites in a UK National Park (the South Downs).

The sale, if all goes ahead, will be the latest turn in what's so far been a very bumpy and argument-strewn road toward the goal of the NSQ's renewal.

Jonathan Smales, Co-Founder and CEO of Human Nature and a Lewes resident said:

"We're determined to get on and deliver this important regeneration project for the town, including the long-awaited integrated health hub, flood defences, and much needed homes and work-spaces.

"We will be making good use of the technical information associated with the existing planning consent, but the scheme needs to be redesigned for greater viability, liveability and to be fit to meet the challenges of the climate crisis.

"We intend to move forward at speed, take the site out of limbo and build a scheme that Lewes can be really proud of."

The district council said that, with longstanding connections to Lewes, Human Nature has recently opened a head office in the High Street and will establish a site office in NSQ in due course.

The authority added that it understood much of the funding for the acquisition has also come from local private investors.

Some parts of the NSQ, also called the Phoenix Estate (after the former iron and steel works), were occupied at relatively low rent by a co-operative set of artists, makers, and other community groups.

After initial terms for the redevelopment of the NSQ were agreed following plans being first floated in 2013, many of the premises they rented were closed by the North Street Quarter's former owners and partially demolished, to make way for the first phase of redevelopment work.

This involved the wholesale eviction of the creative community, which produced deep resentment in some sections of Lewes.

But the redevelopment failed to get going in earnest — and the land on which the former occupiers exercised their talents lies empty.

Other parts of the industrial estate are occupied by several independent businesses, trading to the great benefit of the local community from premises that, in several cases, have seen better days.

These include an NHS dentist, garage services, and light engineering companies.

Lewes Phoenix Rising, a group supporting the inclusion of facilities for small, creative businesses, among other community-focused aims, said on Tuesday:

"Lewes Phoenix Rising (LPR) is very pleased to hear the news that a buyer for the former North Street industrial estate in Lewes has come forward to take on development of the whole site.

"We are confident that the development will now proceed, supported by a developer, Human Nature, that has a commitment to sustainable development and to generating benefits for our town and wider district.

"We know that Human Nature has strong links with Lewes and understands the unique characteristics of our town.

"After eight years of campaigning for the right development on North Street, we look forward to engaging with Human Nature and other stakeholders in Lewes to identify how this site can help to meet Lewes’ needs at a time of climate crisis and huge economic challenge.

We will work to ensure that proposals for the site meet Lewes’ expectation for a genuinely sustainable development, with a wide range of homes, jobs and services for our town, including genuinely affordable housing and workspace."

A former leading personality in Lewes Phoenix Rising, Chelsea Renton, revealed today to More Radio that she is now working with the incoming new owner, Human Nature.

Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Lewes District Council, said:

"I am delighted that Human Nature has agreed to purchase North Street Quarter.

"Their vision and commitment to delivering a more sustainable scheme on the site is great to hear.

"After such a long period of inaction, it feels like something might finally be happening on this important site.

"While people have held different views over the years about the best use of North Street, everyone is unified in the belief that the site represents a landmark opportunity for the town, creating much needed new homes and work spaces for people.

"I am looking forward to discussing these latest developments at Cabinet next week and deciding on the best way forward for the council, our residents and local businesses."