North Street Quarter, Lewes

Planned around the principle of the five-minute neighbourhood on a former industrial site in Lewes, East Sussex, the Phoenix aims to be one of the most sustainable and regenerative mixed-use developments in Europe – zero carbon and waste in operation – and the largest timber development in the UK.

The Phoenix is a proposed mixed-use development on a 7.9 hectare brownfield site (Phoenix Industrial Estate) in Lewes, East Sussex. The site is within the boundaries of the South Downs National Park and bordering the Lewes Conservation Area. It seeks to turn the imperatives of the climate and natural emergencies into opportunities for better design, better placemaking and ultimately healthier and better living.

Planned to prioritise people over cars, constructed primarily in sustainable timber, powered by renewable energy and designed to encourage a culture of sharing, it represents a new and regenerative way to make a place, build a community and create a productive and circular local economy.

The development will transform a neglected former industrial site into a beautiful green place, providing much-needed homes and jobs, community spaces, a river walk, flood defences and health centre. At the heart of the neighbourhood will be a series of public squares connecting to a community canteen, event hall, taproom, fitness centre, workspace and makers’ studios, much of which will be housed within repurposed industrial structures. Shared courtyards, parks, green corridors and rooftop gardens will enable social interaction, promote communal living and provide habitats for local wildlife.

The masterplan for the Phoenix comprises 18 different housing blocks designed by 12 different architects, giving the neighbourhood diversity, character and housing choice.