Plans to turn Meridian Centre into Morrisons are back

On Wednesday (October 7), Lewes District Council’s planning committee is due to consider a planning application, which seeks permission to demolish the existing centre and replace it with a Morrisons supermarket.

The proposals are a revised version of stalled plans, which had been green lit by a council planning committee in 2023.

In addition to a new supermarket, the earlier version of the scheme had also sought full planning permission to replace the site’s existing library with a new building; renovate and extend Community House; and build a group of retail units on the eastern side of the site.

Officers, in a report to the committee, said the current application’s supermarket building would be smaller than the original application.

Officers say this reduction is a “rationalised” design, which would only reduce the store’s trading area by around 221 square metres (slightly smaller than a standard tennis court).

The new application also now proposes “smaller scale” renovations for Community House than the original scheme.

While the plans to build the other retail units on the site have been retained, the application now only seeks outline, rather than full, planning permission for this element of the development at this stage.

The revised plans no longer involve the construction of a new library building. Officers say part of the existing building will see some renovations as a result of the proposed development.

Officers say these will see some ‘accessibility improvements’, which would result from the building’s frontage being served from the existing Meridian Centre and integrated into a new town square area.

In a statement submitted in response to the application, a spokesman for the library service said: “East Sussex County Council welcomes the principle of retaining library provision in a central and accessible location in Peacehaven and recognises the wider benefits of regeneration at the Meridian Centre.

“However, further information is required before the council can determine whether the existing building represents a suitable long-term solution.

“This information should include a condition survey, clear cost information and confirmation of the proposed handover, ownership, maintenance and repair arrangements.

“This information is essential to ensure any retained library provision is fit for purpose, affordable and sustainable for residents over the longer term.”

Lewes officers say these concerns would not be “material to the planning application, but should be addressed through the legal process of any transfer arrangement.”

Planning officers also say the proposals would not impede the existing library function.

According to the committee report, the council received 119 letters of support and 16 objections.

Peacehaven Town Council and Telscombe Town Council have offered support for the proposals, although both have also highlighted the need for conditions.

For further information see application reference LW/23/0018 on the Lewes District Council planning portal.