moving on 2008 Lewes district primary schools annual ... - Viva Lewes

HARVEYS DEPOT
It’s the first thing you see from the station. But for how long?
There’s a quaint old worldliness about one of the views from
the train as you enter Lewes. Slightly Trumpton-esque, the
large signage attached to the red-roofed building says: ‘Welcome
to Lewes Home of Harveys Brewery’ and ‘Prize Sussex
Ales’. On top of the building is a clock tower under a black
wrought-iron weather vane, adorned with ivy-leaves and
carved with the initials H&S, for Harvey and Sons. What is
slightly misleading about this picture is that these attractive
features, along with the long brick wall and huge wrought-iron
gates that bring to mind Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, have
only been there twelve years. Records show that in 1873 the
site was a back lot with trees. By 1910, a sorting office existed at
the extreme south-west corner of the site. The current building
was actually constructed by the GPO in 1937 as a sorting
office. By 1960, when the whole area flooded, the building was
being used as a repair depot for Post Office vehicles. I speak to
Miles Jenner, Harveys’ Joint Managing Director, who tells me:
“Thirty seven houses were going to be erected here, and it was
only after a struggle that Harveys were able to buy the site in
1996 to use as a depot. We upgraded it as a goodwill gesture
to the community.” So why did they sell it? “Basically we out-
W W W. V I V A L E W E S . C O M
B r I C K S A n d M O r t A r
grew the site, and sold it last year after finding
a purpose-built alternative. After the failure of
the Lewes community project bid, we decided
against the higher residential offers, instead
choosing a mixed-development option by a
local developer.” This is Martin Elliott, who
along with local architecture firm, BBM Sustainable
Design, has come up with a proposal
called Harvey’s Yard. These plans have led to
heated debate, particularly amongst local residents
who fear the development would result
in them losing views and light. I meet Ian
McKay from BBM to discuss the plans, noticing
as we go through the gates, a large yellow
banner hanging from the back of a number of
Lansdown Place houses saying: ‘Enjoy the view
– it’s your last chance’. As we enter the building,
I breathe in a strong whiff of petrol inside
a large industrial space with high ceilings and
concrete floors. Ian shows me BBM’s model
of the development, constructed for the two
recent public consultation meetings, which he
tells me were ‘lively.’ What would happen to
the building we are standing in, I ask? “This
would become a restaurant, and there would
be a permanent fruit and vegetable market.”
He points out a thoroughfare through the
centre and a public courtyard. No residences
would be on the ground floor, because of flood
risk, and businesses would be constructed with
flood-resistant materials. I ask about concerns
about light and views, and Ian says that the design
has been drawn up in such a way that not
even winter sunlight would be blocked. “There
would be a communal garden on the roof, with
a Sky Harvester, featuring 300 square meters
of electric panels for solar water heating. Harvey’s
Yard would be as near to carbon neutral
as you can get. It would feature a charge point
for electric mopeds and provision for bicycle
storage.” I ask Ian how he feels about the reaction.
“We knew there would be controversy,
but we didn’t expect it to be so personal and
aggressive. We’re still only at the consultation
stage.” As I walk back along Pinwell Road, I
look at Pinwell House, a BBM construction I
think works well, and wonder how Lewes can
balance keeping what makes it beautiful with
meeting the needs of future generations. V
Emma Chaplin
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