Lion Street Deal Done
The Waiting is Over
It’s been a long road and behind the scenes there has been a lot of activity and negotiation, but after nearly 2 years and many twists and turns, Lion Street has been saved.
Sussex Coast College Hastings (SCCH) had planned to sell the site to developers but a campaign supported by Rye residents and Rye Town Council managed to overturn their planning application.
On 19th July, Mike Eve , Chair of Fletcher in Rye CIC (FIR) was handed the keys by Phil Barnes of SCCH (pictured)
Contracts were exchanged and completed on 18th July 2012, and the FE Centre will now be used by St Mary’s. The rest of the site - The Old Library, Art Room and Link Building - will be developed by Fletcher in Rye.
Discussions are continuing with venue operators to find the most sustainable use for Fletcher’s part of the site and we are hoping to have further good news next week.
Agreement was reached between St Mary’s and Fletcher to join forces to buy the site - separating the freehold on completion - the Fletcher and St Mary’s sites will be entirely independent
Funds for the purchase were raised by Fletcher in Rye CIC with generous donations from individual supporters
The task of raising £750,000 for the development starts now. Planning Permission will be sought from Rother District Council - who have been consulted along the way
Rye’s Jonathan Dunn Architects are preparing drawings and models
Some repairs are needed as the site has been left unattended for 18 months, but as soon as these are made Fletcher will be holding an open exhibition of the plans
