On 11 Nov 2011 at 3:28pm No Pot Pourri wrote:
I see that Robin Cross's application to build 4 houses in The Avenue has been recommended for refusal in spite of his canvassing so many letters of support. Maybe it would work with 3? Lets see what the planning committee say.
Also note that the former Chandlers site in Timberyard Lane has been put forward for 13 new houses, riverside walkway, improved flood defences and decontamination. Looks quite good.
On 11 Nov 2011 at 5:41pm sweedish saunas wrote:
i hope robin gets something through , at least he make his developments fit in with their surroundings . unlike some of the hideous things that have blighted our sky line in recent times
On 11 Nov 2011 at 5:46pm Tango wrote:
No doubt a few nice holidays offered up in Tenner reefee will sway the committee, I think that's how it works.
On 11 Nov 2011 at 7:54pm No Pot Pourri wrote:
SS: Having looked at his website, I don't think Robin Cross does particularly brilliant developments. Pastiche at best. The "getting something through" is down to Robin. The committee can only look at what he has proposed, which does look a bit over the top.
The scheme at the Chandlers site looks much more considered and less overdeveloped.
Tango: A bit silly to suggest that Cross or the planning committee are up to no good. No evidence. Probably rubbish.
On 12 Nov 2011 at 10:40am drone wrote:
The riverside development looks like being millionaires row. It saddens me that youngsters growing up in Lewes will be unlikely to be able to afford to live in the town of their birth when they start to look for jobs.
On 12 Nov 2011 at 12:30pm bastian wrote:
and that plan for the old North st industrial units is back on the agenda, but by the time the developers have bought the site for the 80 million the Irish government paid for it and cleaned it up of asbestos and put in the flood defence, estimated at 2 million, they aren't going to be selling the houses for peanuts. it will be the same old case of Londoners owning and locals renting at London rates.
On 12 Nov 2011 at 12:37pm Spartacus wrote:
Has anybody got any links for these developments?
On 12 Nov 2011 at 7:49pm fairmeadow wrote:
The plan for North Street (aka Phoenix) is indeed back on the agenda, and about time too. For years it has been a semi-derelict mess. The key is to ensure that it includes enough housing to make it viable for the new developer to include a decent proportion of affordable housing. The affordable housing will go to local people.
The costs of cleaning up and providing flood protection will not be trivial, so the developers will be bound to try to use this as an argument to get the affordable element reduced. However, it is the social rented housing that really costs the developers, and they do quite well out of shared equity (to a first approximation, if half the equity is sold, the developer gets half the profit they would make on market housing). Maybe shared equity should be a big element in this particular site? Only local people would be eligible, and (Lewes being a town) they would be able to progress up the ladder to full ownership over time.
If you think Lewes should do something to make it possible for local young people to get on the ladder, now is the time to say so. The "consultation" deadline has just been extended to 2 December.
Email your point of view to ldf@lewes.gov.uk.
On 13 Nov 2011 at 12:49pm bastian wrote:
asI pointed out, the cost of the site at the pheonix will make cheap housing for our youth impossible,just more yuppy flats for those on London wages.
On 13 Nov 2011 at 1:38pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
The problem with the North Street site is that to achieve social housing in any meaningful quantity, the private part of the development will either have to be horrendously expensive or the properties will have to be shorehorned in at incredible density to make a return for the developer.
I'm all in favour of redeveloping the site and think the riverside generally is a real wasted resource, but it needs to be done sensitively.
Mind you, I'm surprised any developer is thinking of building any homes in such an uncertain economic climate. Maybe Lewes is one of the few places thqgt people are still buying.
On 13 Nov 2011 at 3:49pm Bongo wrote:
The industrial units are around 90% occupied on the Phoenix estate. It may 'look' derelict, but there are companies running successful businesses there. Why should they be forced to close up and moved out of Lewes? Wouldn't it be better to invest in more units, or tart up the existing ones? Employment for local people rather than expensive housing should come first, surely?
On 13 Nov 2011 at 4:29pm No Pot Pourri wrote:
I am not sure that Lewes has suffered much more house price inflation that anywhere. Housing is about 25% too expensive, but interest rates are low and rentals are high, so that won't change any time soon.
Drone: the Timberyard Lane houses are 2, 3 and 4 be terraced, probably £300-ÂŁ700k, so not Millionaires Row but about typical for Lewes.
Bongo: Completely agree. We need inexpensive employment space and to encourage successful businesses to stay here and expand. That way Lewes won't be just for commuters and DFLs. The North Street site is in an ideal location for this.
Landport, Malling and Neville have done nothing to lower the cost of housing here, so why should a new estate in North Street?
On 14 Nov 2011 at 3:34pm bastian wrote:
I've just heard some worrying news about the pheonix site,it's been bought by someone....so the mayor says
mind you they still have to get the planning through, angle never managed that,at least nothing was set in stone..and we're a national park now.
On 14 Nov 2011 at 7:12pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I'm cynical about shared equity. When the Pantworks shared ownership flats weren't selling, on account of being out of reach of local people to buy even half of one, the "local" area was extended to a 50 mile radius. I may be being parochial, but I don't consider Croydon to be local to Lewes.
It's still hugely dear too. A friend of mine looked into it and he found that the cost of a 50% share plus rent on the other 50% was only a little less than it would have cost him to buy the whole lot. The only mortgage deals available for shared equity purchase had higher interest rates than those available for ordinary property purchase, and he would have had to pay 100% of maintenance and service charges.
On 15 Nov 2011 at 4:50pm bastian wrote:
and then there is the insurence on flats that will flood..you cannot hold back the tide..water will always find a way in, especially that close to the river...it was 4 feet last time. that site is absolutely not suitable for housing.
By the way..industrial buildings are not pretty but they are functional..since when did they have to look appealing. That foundary is the last slice of actual industry Lewes has had.
On 17 Nov 2011 at 8:42pm Robin Cross wrote:
I thought I would reply to the posting from "No Pot Pourri" and "sweedish saunas"
You will I hope be please to no that I did get permission for the 4 houses in the avenue.
However for Tango to suggest I would offer holidays in reward is quite outrageous. Especially to suggest Tenerife, please!
If "No Pot Pourri" had taken the time to look at our whole website you would see quite mix of properties all of which are high quality including contempory
To confirm I did canvas hard for the Avenue site. This permission will safe guard 6 full time jobs and 30 via subcontractors. We will also be purchasing materials from local suppliers so helping the local economy.
Regards Robin Cross
On 17 Nov 2011 at 9:10pm Bazooka Joe wrote:
Regarding the Printworks/Pantworks; there was NO shared equity. Seem to recall it was home-owners or subsidised rental units for key-workers only..
Regarding Robin Cross; I have a friend who lives in one of his properties and must say it is well built, sensitive and appropriate for the local area and was reasonably priced. If only more developers had the conscience that Robin Cross demonstrates (and YES, I'd willingly buy one of his properties)
On 18 Nov 2011 at 5:21pm Robin Cross wrote:
Thanks for your kind words Bazooka Joe.
On 19 Nov 2011 at 11:13am No Pot Pourri wrote:
Hello Robin
Well done on getting the permission. The main objection seemed to be from the Conservation Officer whose opinions are increasingly being proved wrong.
4 generously sized family houses in great location, views over Baxter's Field, parking and high quality build. I would like one myself if I could afford it!
The planning committee definitely made the right decision.
On 19 Nov 2011 at 6:38pm Robin Cross wrote:
Thank you for your congratulations Pot Portti. Yes the planning department really got it wrong. I think as they approved the extant scheme that was so disliked they couldnâ??t loose face. However the committee were having none of it and voted to over turn the recommendation to refuse by I think 5 to3 a good result for common sense
By the way do I no you?
On 19 Nov 2011 at 7:46pm Metatron wrote:
Bongo your comments are a great reflection on the dormitory town that Lewes will become if it doesnâ??t attract a bigger commercial base.
Lewes needs more jobs it doesnâ??t need more people.