Funding approved to unlock next phase of Uckfield to Lewes Greenway

Wealden District Council’s Cabinet decision to allocate up to £558,000 towards the Uckfield to Lewes Greenway can now be implemented after Scrutiny and Performance Committee resolved to take no further action.

The proposed 14.5km greenway will give residents a safer, healthier way to walk, wheel and cycle between communities, jobs, education, services, rail connections and local green spaces across Wealden, Lewes and the surrounding area.

The Cabinet decision allocates up to £558,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy as Wealden District Council’s contribution towards the proposed Hamsey Bridge over the River Ouse, connecting Lewes and Hamsey. Allocation does not itself release the money: funds can be released only when the matching-funding, due-diligence, consent, land and delivery conditions are satisfied.

Hamsey Bridge is the key piece of infrastructure needed to unlock the wider Uckfield to Lewes Greenway, including the planned route serving Uckfield, Isfield and other Wealden communities.

The wider greenway would support planned and committed growth, particularly at Uckfield, by providing sustainable transport links to employment, education, services and rail connections in Uckfield and Lewes. Although Hamsey Bridge lies within Lewes District, it unlocks a route that will directly benefit communities in Wealden.

For residents, the greenway would make every day active travel simpler and safer, improve access to green space, support physical and mental wellbeing, and give cyclists an alternative to the A26.

Members of Wealden council’s Scrutiny and Performance Committee examined the issues raised by the call-in, including the wider project’s progress, value for money, prioritisation of CIL funding, land and consent requirements, partner funding and the conditions governing the release of Wealden’s contribution.

Wealden’s allocation remains conditional on matching contributions from Lewes District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority, satisfactory due diligence, all necessary planning and other consents, appropriate land agreements, and robust delivery arrangements. The funding will not be released until those conditions have been met.

Earlier this year, Lewes District Council approved in principle a contribution of £558,000, subject to planning permission and matching funding from project partners. A decision from the South Downs National Park Authority on a potential matching contribution is anticipated.

Councillor Kelvin Williams, Alliance for Wealden (Liberal Democrat) and lead councillor for Public Health and Asset Management, said: “The Scrutiny and Performance Committee has completed its consideration and resolved to take no further action, so the Cabinet decision can now be implemented. Hamsey Bridge is the essential infrastructure that will unlock the wider Uckfield to Lewes Greenway and its benefits for our communities.

“This is an allocation, not an unconditional release of funds. Partner funding must be secured, and the required due diligence, consents, land agreements and delivery arrangements must be in place before any money is released. Those safeguards remain central to the decision.”

Councillor Emily O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Climate, Nature and Food Systems, said: “This is really exciting news for a project that has the potential to transform how people move between Lewes and Hamsey now, as well as unlocking a future Lewes to Uckfield route. Schemes like this help tackle the climate emergency while improving people’s wellbeing, strengthening our connection with the incredible landscape on our doorstep and giving people more sustainable travel choices.

“This funding approval is a crucial piece of the puzzle and brings us significantly closer to making this new bridge a reality. We’re delighted by the support shown already and look forward to continuing to work with our partners to deliver this project and the many benefits it will bring to our residents.”