Save Lewes bus station! - Lewes Liberal Democrats

Save Lewes Bus Station

Lewes Bus Station and the adjoining former bus garage site are now up for sale at a reduced price, creating a rare opportunity to secure their future for the benefit of the town.

The newly created Sussex Strategic Authority has the stated aims of: strengthening public transport integration, supporting resilient high streets, and enabling coordinated delivery of new social housing

We are calling on the Sussex Strategic Authority to fulfil it's stated aim and purchase the site, protecting the bus station as a safe, centrally located public transport hub and working with Lewes District Council to use the former bus garage land for much-needed social housing.

This could secure better public transport in the heart of Lewes while providing new affordable homes close to the town centre and local services.

Sign our petition to support bringing Lewes Bus Station into public ownership and using the former bus garage site for social housing.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

You can opt-out at any time

Phone number

You can opt-out at any time

Postcode *

Would you like to receive email updates?

Yes No

Would you like to receive phone communication?

Yes No

The Liberal Democrats may use the information you provide, including your political opinions, to further our objectives and share it with our elected representatives. Any data we gather will be used in accordance with our privacy policy: libdems.org.uk/privacy. You can exercise your rights and withdraw your consent to future communications by contacting us: data.protection@libdems.org.uk or: DPO, Lib Dems, 66 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AU.

Letter to Sussex Strategic Authority

Dear Chair,

We are writing to urge the Brighton & Sussex Strategic Authority to give urgent and serious consideration to purchasing the Lewes bus station and former bus garage site, now listed for sale at £3 million following a significant reduction from its previous price of over £4 million.

This moment represents a rare and highly strategic opportunity. The Authority’s stated aims under Local Government Reorganisation — strengthening public transport integration, supporting resilient high streets, and enabling coordinated delivery of new social housing — align directly with what this site can unlock for Lewes and the wider Sussex area.

Reacquiring the bus station would allow the Strategic Authority to place reliable, safe, centrally located public transport at the heart of Lewes once again. The current alternatives proposed are neither guaranteed nor safe, and depend on Section 106 funding from multiple developments that may never come forward. A publicly owned and strategically planned transport hub would deliver certainty, safety, and long‑term value for residents and businesses.

The former bus garage site sits alonside the bus station site and offers an equally important opportunity. Under Local Government Reorganisation, the ability for Lewes District Council — or its successor authority — to deliver new social housing is central to meeting regional housing need. This land is uniquely placed to support that mission, providing high‑quality, affordable homes within walking distance of the town centre, schools, and transport links.

Taken together, these two linked sites offer a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to advance the Strategic Authority’s core objectives: integrated transport, thriving high streets, and new social housing delivered at scale.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this further and explore how the Strategic Authority could lead on securing the site for public benefit.

Yours sincerely,

James MacCleary, MP
Cllr Edwina Livesey
Cllr Kevin West
Cllr Janet Baah