The Salt Block Ltd has submitted a planning application to the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) to install a small mobile sauna and cold-plunge facility on land at the Old Lewes Racecourse, proposing a temporary change of use to support a community-focused wellness offer.
What is being proposed?
The application, registered with the reference SDNP/26/03697/FUL, seeks permission for a mobile horsebox sauna, cold plunge facilities, an outdoor shower and changing facilities. The scheme would include approximately 3m x 3m of removable timber decking and associated community, landscape and biodiversity enhancement works. The planning statement accompanying the application says the change of use would be temporary, limited to three years from the date of any approval.
- Applicant: The Salt Block Ltd
- Location: The Motor Road, Old Lewes Racecourse
- Proposed elements: mobile sauna (horsebox), cold plunge, outdoor shower, temporary decking
- Duration: temporary change of use for 3 years
Applicant’s stated aims
In its planning statement the company describes the sauna as forming part of “The Salt Block, an emerging community-focused café and outdoor wellness business operating from the historic Old Racecourse buildings in Lewes.” The statement emphasises that the sauna site would be on a separate parcel of land from the existing café and is therefore the subject of a separate planning application.
"The proposal has been developed as a low-impact, landscape-sensitive use which supports outdoor recreation, health and wellbeing, local economic activity and access to the South Downs landscape."
Local context and likely issues for consideration
The Old Lewes Racecourse, a recognisable open space on the town’s fringe, sits within the South Downs National Park boundary and is valued both for its recreational use and its landscape. Any change of use, even temporary, prompts scrutiny on several fronts:
- Landscape impact — the SDNPA will assess whether the small structures and any associated footfall would harm views, character or biodiversity.
- Access and parking — increased visitors to a relatively rural site can strain narrow lanes and car parks; the application will be judged on management of arrivals and any transport impacts.
- Community use and precedent — residents and parish councils often consider whether temporary uses are genuinely community-focused or set a precedent for longer-term commercialisation of open land.
Planning permission for an existing café in the former Totaliser building on the racecourse was granted in October 2023 (SDNP/23/02048/FUL). The Salt Block’s statement positions the sauna as an adjunct to that emerging enterprise but insists the site for the horsebox sauna is separate and temporary.
How residents can view and respond
The application is available to view on the SDNPA planning portal using the reference given above. Responses and comments from local people, parish and town councils, and statutory consultees will form part of the authority’s decision-making process. The formal consultation period set by the SDNPA will determine how long residents can submit observations.
| Application detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Reference | SDNP/26/03697/FUL |
| Proposed duration | 3 years (temporary change of use) |
| Proposed structures | Mobile horsebox sauna, cold plunge, outdoor shower, 3m x 3m decking |
Local reaction is likely to be mixed. Supporters of small-scale leisure and wellbeing ventures may welcome an additional draw that could boost visitors to the café and the wider town. Others will be watching closely to ensure the national park’s protections are upheld and that any increased traffic or activity is managed.
The SDNPA has previously been cautious about changes across the racecourse, balancing opportunities for community benefit against the need to protect landscape character. This application will be assessed on those established planning principles, and interested parties are advised to examine the documents on the planning portal before the consultation deadline.
For those wishing to follow the case or comment, search the SDNPA online applications for SDNP/26/03697/FUL or contact the authority directly for guidance on submitting representations.
