The Phoenix site has laid partially derelict and redundant for more than 20 years since it was devastated by fire and flood and is a scar in the town and wider landscape. Whaleback worked with a vast and experienced project team to bring forward a regeneration scheme that was both environmentally sustainable and financially viable.

The applicant’s approach to placemaking started with the desire to build a new neighbourhood for Lewes, focussed on community, low traffic streets, vanguard sustainability credentials and a revolutionary architectural approach to building in timber.

The proposals include a Co-Mobility Hub that will offer 45 electric vehicles and many bikes, e-bikes and cargo bikes to encourage existing and future residents to reduce reliance on the private car. On-site private parking spaces are severely limited (well below policy requirements) to ensure future occupants cannot rely on the private car, and in addition to the Co-Mobility Hub services a huge package of investment in sustainable transport benefits are also secured by S106 agreement including new and improved walking and cycling routes to Lewes Railway Station, local crossing and junction improvements to the road network and a pioneering Travel Plan. The benefit of this future-looking approach to mobility is that the streets of the Phoenix will be clear of cars, child-friendly, social and beautiful.

The Sustainability Strategy for the site takes a a ‘whole life carbon’ approach, taking the sum total of all building-related emissions (the amount of carbon) over a building’s entire life including its ultimate demolition and disposal. The planning authority credited this in its Planning Committee Report as exceeding the stringent requirements of its own Sustainable Construction Policy SP3.