Anger at plans to demolish Lewes Bus Station

Proposals have been submitted to demolish Lewes Bus Station to build more than 41 homes as well as office and retail space.

The station in Eastgate Street was originally built in the late 1950s by local bus company, Southdown.

The bus station cafe (from The Argus's photo archive)

However, a save Lewes Bus Station petition is now urging planners to reject the plans and it has been signed by more than 300 people.

The petition says: “The building is in a central location and is iconic fifties architecture, both familiar and well loved by many residents.

“It is also a functioning bus station.

The petition says Lewes Bus Station is still functioning

“Lewes is the largest town in a national park in the UK.

“It is unthinkable that it would be developed when an alternative site is not part of the plans.

“Developing the site would mean that Lewes would lose an important public transport hub at a time when it is essential to reduce carbon emissions.

“We, the undersigned, object to this proposal, on the grounds that the building has character and purpose.”

Developers say they have taken onboard feedback from the community and made a number of changes to the design.

If grated, 39 apartments and two houses, and 19 car parking spaces would be built on the site.

Developers are hoping to build 41 homes at the site

There would also be about 360sqm of commercial space facing Eastgate and East Street.

The site would scale between four and five storeys and would feature a communal green space as well as planting along the street.

The Heritage Advisory (THA), a consultancy firm which has been working with the developers, said the current site “exhibits an ongoing trend toward degradation that is in need of significant remedial work”.

THA said: “Therefore presents the opportunity for enhancement with respect to the overarching conservation area.

“Still more pertinent is the highly negative effect the application site currently has upon the settings of numerous listed buildings and local landmark buildings within the locale.”

Residents have objected to the scheme on Lewes District Council's planning portal.

Melody Pellatt said: "The demolition of a building like this should be a crime as we believe very era of architecture should be given the same amount of respect because it's our window into the culture of that period.

"The bus station has always been a favourite of mine and I was so happy to move to Lewes and live with a view of it from my window."

Another resident, Ray Jarvis, said: "The bus station and stop outside Waitrose are busy facilities and a permanent bus hub should be maintained.

"Sustainable transport is the way forward and a number of lobbies favour encouraging people to re-engage with public transport.

"Losing the bus station with no alternative is hardly the way forward."