Planning Departments
Local Planning Authorities, pre-application advice, planning portals
East Sussex is a two-tier county. East Sussex County Council handles strategic, minerals and waste planning only. All householder applications go to your district or borough council below. Brighton & Hove is a separate unitary authority.
East Sussex County Council - Strategic Planning
County-wide - minerals, waste & county matters only
03456 080 190
eastsussex.gov.uk/planning
County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE. Do not use for householder applications - use your district or borough council below.
District, Borough & City Planning Departments
Eastbourne Borough Council
Eastbourne
01323 410 000eastbourne.gov.uk/planning
Hastings Borough Council
Hastings, St Leonards-on-Sea
01424 451 066hastings.gov.uk/planning
Lewes District Council
Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford, Peacehaven
01273 471 600lewes.gov.uk/planning
Rother District Council
Bexhill, Battle, Rye
01424 787 000rother.gov.uk/planning
Wealden District Council
Crowborough, Hailsham, Heathfield, Uckfield
01892 653 311wealden.gov.uk/planning
Brighton & Hove City Council
Brighton, Hove - unitary authority
01273 290 000brighton-hove.gov.uk/planning
Brighton & Hove is an independent unitary authority - not part of East Sussex County Council. All planning, building control and highways are handled directly by the city council.
Building Control
BCO contacts for Building Regulations approval across East Sussex
LABC - Find Your East Sussex Building Control Team
All districts - postcode search
Use the LABC postcode finder to locate your local building control team. Each district runs its own service. You may also use a Registered Building Control Approver (private sector).
Heritage & Conservation
Listed buildings, conservation areas, the High Weald and Downs
Historic England - South East Region
Covers East Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire and Berkshire
0370 333 0607southeast@historicengland.org.uk
Eastgate Court, 195-205 High Street, Guildford, GU1 3EH. East Sussex has a rich heritage including Lewes Castle, Battle Abbey (1066 battlefield), the medieval Cinque Ports, and the South Downs National Park.
East Sussex Historic Environment Record
Archaeological and historic records for the county
Request an HER search before submitting planning applications where buried archaeology may be present.
Environment & Flood Risk
Environment Agency, natural environment, drainage and flood
Environment Agency - South East Region
Flood risk, water quality, waste licensing
03708 506 506Check flood risk - GOV.UK
Flood Incident Line: 0345 988 1188 (24hr). East Sussex has flood risk along the Ouse, Cuckmere and coastal areas. The Sussex Levels and the Pevensey Levels are low-lying and subject to tidal and fluvial flooding.
Natural England - South East
South Downs National Park, SSSIs, protected species
0300 060 3900
Significant areas of East Sussex fall within the High Weald AONB and the South Downs National Park, which has its own planning authority for development within its boundary.
South Downs National Park Authority
Planning within the South Downs National Park
01730 814 810southdowns.gov.uk/planning
If your site is within the South Downs National Park boundary, submit planning applications to the SDNPA - not to the district council.
Utilities & Infrastructure
Water, gas, electricity and highways connections
South East Water
Water supply - most of East Sussex
0333 000 0002southeastwater.co.uk/developers
Southern Water
Sewerage and water - coastal East Sussex
0330 303 0368southernwater.co.uk/developers
Check your postcode to confirm your water company. Build-over agreements for sewers apply to whichever company owns the sewer.
UK Power Networks (UKPN)
Electricity distribution - all of East Sussex
0800 029 4285 (connections)ukpowernetworks.co.uk/connections
Power cuts: 105. Contact for new connections, EV charging infrastructure, heat pump supply upgrades and cable diversions.
Southern Gas Networks (SGN)
Gas distribution - all of East Sussex
0800 912 1700sgn.co.uk/new-connections
Gas emergency: 0800 111 999. SGN operates the gas network across East Sussex and the South East. Use LSBUD to check pipe locations before excavating.
East Sussex County Council - Highways
Adopted roads, dropped kerbs, access
03456 080 190eastsussex.gov.uk/roads
Brighton & Hove highway enquiries go to the city council, not East Sussex County Council.
National Highways
A27, A259 - trunk roads in East Sussex
0300 123 5000nationalhighways.co.uk
Trade Bodies & Professional Registers
Find vetted tradespeople and professionals in East Sussex
Federation of Master Builders - East Sussex
Gas Safe Register
0800 408 5500gassaferegister.co.uk
NICEIC - Find a Registered Electrician
MCS - Find a Renewable Energy Installer
RICS - Find a Surveyor
Other Useful Contacts
Health & safety, complaints and consumer protection
Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
Construction health and safety - national
0300 003 1747hse.gov.uk
Notify HSE of notifiable construction projects under CDM Regulations at least 2 weeks before work begins.
East Sussex Trading Standards
Rogue trader complaints
03456 080 190
Accuracy notice: Contact details and websites change. We update this directory periodically but always verify contacts directly. Last verified July 2026.