Lewes Forum thread

Go on, tell 'em what you think

Lewes Forum New message

Meridian development

On 18 Nov 2009 at 8:34pm right of way user wrote:

Just had a look at the Meridian Hotel development plans; the resited right of way through to De Montfort looks like a muggers alley to me; what do other people think? Don't think you could get a wheel chair through it....

On 18 Nov 2009 at 9:01pm Builder wrote:

Not sure I'd want to live there with the alley going right through the properties. Still, it will give people somewhere to stop for a whizz on the way home.

On 18 Nov 2009 at 9:33pm WGAFF wrote:

Do you mean wazz?

On 18 Nov 2009 at 10:06pm Pewter Pot wrote:

Is the change of use application still open for consultation?

On 18 Nov 2009 at 10:10pm The-Hemulen wrote:

when did this development get agreed? who's bought the PUB then?

On 18 Nov 2009 at 10:26pm Rifleman wrote:

It hasn't been agreed yet. The planning application number is LW/09/1156. You can take a look at the plans on the LDC website. They also have a separate application in to demolish the pub (Conservation Area Consent).

On 18 Nov 2009 at 10:33pm The Fremulen wrote:

When do we have to comment by?

On 18 Nov 2009 at 10:39pm The Frenulum wrote:

Another business closing down.
RIP top of the town.

On 19 Nov 2009 at 9:20am right of way user wrote:

Comments have to be in by 4 dec.
The developers have moved fast - have a reputation allegedly for unsympathetic development in conservation areas - have said I think that it is easier to get planning permission in Lewes than it is in Brighton.
The original building was the kitchen for the workers on the prison. So the flint walls which are to be demolished are circa1840's? Even Thatcherite England managed to retain those as part of the Meridian. I have heard that it is proposed that the salvaged flints will pretty up the new passage way.
Residents to the rear have been rightly consulted since their light could have been severely compromised - but this has succeeded in creating in my view a very compromised streetscape.
No parking - no rear access for bicycles.
Yes the top of the town is at great risk especially if the appalling proposals for the CanonO'Donnell Community Hall ever see the light of day - recently listed as one of the most at risk valuable buildings in the UK. Both proposals suffer from trying to cram as much as possible on difficult sites - nothing new here as far as Lewes is concerned

On 19 Nov 2009 at 1:48pm Down and Out wrote:

I'm always sad to see a pub close and it's a shame there's so little in the way of street activity / shops etc at that end of town. At the same time the fact that it's about the only single storey building fronting a main street in Lewes does mean that there's a pretty solid case for increased development in townscape terms. It would be nice to think that LDC will hold out for good quality but I can't see it.

On 19 Nov 2009 at 1:59pm Down and Out wrote:

Just had a look online. It's pretty drab stuff. Agree with r o w y about the compromised street scape. I'd rather they'd made a bit of it taller to break up the massing. It just looks a bit half-arsed at the moment.

On 19 Nov 2009 at 7:11pm right of way user wrote:

Down and Out - it gets back to the original problem of greed and a difficult site. They can't make it taller because of the residents at the rear. Really for the site to be developed sympathetically it needs far more imagination and better quality plans than this cheap pragmatic 'solution'.
I suppose that in terms of continuity perhaps single story development - less profitable - would have been the most consistent solution; but ofcourse less profit so be squeezed....