The major redevelopment of a former reservoir in Cowes into nearly 150 houses has been approved…with Isle of Wight Council planners saying it ticks a lot of boxes.
4 years after plans were tabled to build houses on the Somerton Reservoir, permission has finally been granted by the council’s planning committee with 9 in favour and 2 against. It will see 28 houses, 72 flats and 44 assisted living units, with 1 guest and 1 staff unit, built in the footprint of the former reservoir.
Speaking at the committee meeting on Tuesday, planning agent David Long, on behalf of developers Heartwood Homes, said brownfield sites on the Island were at a premium but they were also a policy preference of the council.
The scheme, Mr Long said, had tried to use the site cleverly, including parking in what would have been the reservoir basin.
The site was quite utopian he said, included on the brownfield register, next to a school, the Cowes Medical Centre, the biggest employer in the area, shops, sustainable transport links — “you could not get better for a mixed-use environment”.
Councillor Vanessa Churchman, 1 of the 2 councillors against the development, however, said the design was horrible and thought she was looking at an industrial estate rather than houses but did not object to the principle of housing at the reservoir.
Councillor Peter Spink, the other councillor to object, said he was doing so because of the potential harm caused to the special protection areas in the Solent. However, Cllr Spink did suggest adding a clause to the permission to find out where new residents had previously lived so it can be determined whether or not new homes are actually going to Islanders.
Councillor Matt Price said the scheme ticked a lot of boxes, as well as adding more assisted living to the Island which will, in turn, free up homes for families and first-time buyers as others downsize. It had been a long time coming, he said, but cautioned adding hard conditions to the permission for fear the scheme would no longer be viable and end up not being delivered.
The permission approved by councillors, proposed by Councillor Chris Jarman, included a number of changes as suggested by multiple members including:
- Introducing a no right-hand turn out of the site onto Newport Road
- The maximum possible roof space used for harvesting solar power
- 25% of car parking, and all bicycle parking spaces, equipped with electric charging points
- A memorial sign in recognition of the historical character of the Toll Gate Cottage
- An ecological management strategy should be produced to deal with the wildlife on site
- A housing priority list for locals to be first in line for the new homes
- A balance of affordable properties across the housing mix
How about giving priority to people who work full time rather than those doing the minimum hours then claiming tax-credit and subsidised rent and council tax as they inflict their choice ofbrood onto society?
from the planning document…
Friends of Northwood Cemetery have raised concerns on the grounds of:
Drain crossing cemetery drains into the reservoir
Reservoir quickly refilled after being emptied due to natural springs.
Diverting would cause excess water to enter cemetery
……….
yep, I am seeing the mistake here already – no sooner do they build on this area, it will flood in due course, rendering all the properties uninhabitable and unsellable – yep geniuses at the IOW council and planning offices
will end up with egg on their faces here – building houses into an old reservoir, what could possibly go wrong.
https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s7883/P.00356.18%20-%20Somerton%20Reservoir.pdf
Homes should be rewarded to working people who pay into the revenue state, not freeloaders claiming more in free handouts and benefits more than those who are working. The majority of these homes will be given to deliberately self inflicted junkies and drunks claiming sickness benefits and PIP for the side effects of their habits, where a genuinely sick or disabled person gets THEIR payments questioned or stopped. It’s about time some priorities and principles were practiced. How many newly built homes on the Island house freeloaders. Work it out.
Doesn’t council already gather postcodes of new residents when they register for council account? Both old and new postcodes? Or am I imagining things? And you select a council tax based on whether you live there permanently or as a second home so I think calculations could already be done for virtually every house on the Island.
The should put on the lease / covenant that you can not rent it out. As time goes on these will fall into the private rental market. Buy to let is immoral, trapping people who are able to play a mortgage in rent, rent that is often twice a mortgage would be. Also the lease / covenant should prevent second home owners. Must be primary residence.
Well said Fred.
The Government nor the Council have yet grasped the fact that we are an Island with finite space and even more finite, and totally inadequate, facilities especially with respect to health services. STOP BUILDING HOUSES FOR PEOPLE YOU CAN’T LOOK AFTER
Would be a great site for a new hospital… but sadly hospitals do not generate money for the council !! I have not heard of any new hospital being built on the Island, biggest reason I guess is the Solent. BUT if they build a tunnel… we would have better doctors.. more companies.. more jobs….
If the council think it is such a good idea to build houses in a reservoir then I am sure that they will, along with the developers, be the first on the waiting list to move in. Go on Isle of Wight Council, put your foot where your mouth is and prove to us all that you REALLY know what you are doing. I thought not.