Old garages in Lewes District to be transformed into home

Lewes District Council is forging ahead with plans to redevelop 11 old garage sites and build 46 affordable homes for residents on the housing register.

The garages, which the council said are "underutilised" are in sites across Lewes, Cooksbridge and Newhaven.

The council has made separate planning applications for dozens of garages to be demolished to make way for a mix of one, two and three bedroom homes, as well as one four bedroom property.

Plans for Chandlers Mead, Cooksbridge (Image: Mohsin Cooper Architects)

Councillor Mark Slater, cabinet member for social housing and tenants, said: "We have a strong track record for breathing new life into redundant brownfield sites by developing high quality homes and that is exactly what we are doing across these 11 garage sites.

"Our development success is that much greater when you consider how few local authorities in the UK are building new council homes due to high construction costs and limited government support.

"It's my hope that the new government will put words into action and give us the resources we need to build more affordable homes and in the right places across the district."

Cllr Slater visited Prince Charles Road, Lewes, where 20 old garages will become four one-bedroom houses.  Planning applications for all the developments have now been submitted.  There are 11 sites.

"We have excellent artist impressions of all the developments on our website and I'd encourage residents to have a look and see just how impressive these much-needed new homes will be," Cllr Slater added.

Plans for Landport Road, Lewes (Image: Mohsin Cooper Architects)

The full details of the plans are:

• Buckwell Court, Lewes - 14 garages into two two-storey, two-bedroom houses
• Chandlers Mead, Cooksbridge - 12 garages into two two-storey, two-bedroom houses
• Crisp Road, Lewes - Six garages into two, three-storey, four-bedroom houses
• Kingsley Road, Lewes - 17 garages into six, two-storey, one-bedroom houses
• Landport Road, Lewes - 16 garages and forecourt car parking into nine, three-storey, one-bedroom houses
• The Lynchets, Lewes - Ten garages into five, three-storey, three-bedroom houses
• Prince Charles Road, Lewes - 20 garages into four, two-storey, one-bedroom houses
• Queens Road, Lewes - 41 garages into six, two-storey, one-bedroom houses
• Valley Road, Newhaven - Five garages into three, two-storey, two-bedroom houses
• Waldshut Road, Lewes - Seven garages into one, two-storey, two-bedroom home
• Western Road, Newhaven - 30 garages into five, two-storey, one-bedroom houses