Plans are in place to develop Branstone Farm — the home of many Isle of Wight school trips.
A joint project from Vectis Housing and the Isle of Wight Council could provide a potential 46 affordable houses for Island residents on the Branstone Farm Estate — which would include a new location for Goddard’s Brewery.
The Arreton site, which included the education centre that opened in 1973, was declared surplus to requirements in June 2018 by the Isle of Wight Council and Martyn Pearl, chief executive of Vectis Housing, said he expressed interest in regenerating the area.
He said:
“It is our commitment to providing local homes for local people — a real opportunity to do something special which returns the use of the building, provides houses and enhances the environment.”
Following previous public consultations and talks, a planning application will be submitted in April to develop the area into affordable housing, community allotments and a biodiversity park.
Vectis Housing has said it will submit a bid to Housing England for a grant to fund the development of houses and the larger parts will follow.
Mr Pearl said the level of affordability would be similar to other Vectis Housing properties, with residents paying rent anywhere between 60-70% of market value — rents people can afford.
Potential prefabricated houses — 2, 3 and 4 beds — could be built to fill the gap in the affordable housing market. Only 2 affordable homes had been built on the Isle of Wight in the last year.
Mr Pearl said Vectis Housing was looking to provide 150 affordable houses in the next 3 to 5 years. He said:
“We are not going to solve the problem by ourselves but it is a start”.
A business centre is part of the larger scheme, with small rural businesses filling the commercial spaces.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“This is an early stage for the authority on a developing project.
“The principles underpinning the proposal around development of mixed use sustainable communities are consistent with our regeneration strategy and we will continue to work with the partners and the local community in developing the proposals to highlight local benefits from the proposal in terms of jobs and affordable homes.”
What a brilliant idea. “Let’s build affordable housing for the less well off IOW citizens” “Great! Where shall we build them?” “I know…..MILES AWAY FROM ANY SHOPS, (and rich people). Whoops! Did I say that??” ” I never heard a thing! ….Pass the trough….”
I find it funny when they claim it’s to help people out ‘affordable’ houses……….mr pearl is concerned about the people not the hundreds of thousands of pounds he will be earning.
There is no such a thing, as
“AFFORDABLE HOUSING”
Stop breeding then we won’t need to build 4 bed houses…. Replace them wit 2 x 2 bed flats on the same foot print….
Sad that the council hasn’t stuck to its original planning for agriculture retail/tourism or educational use. Would be a great location for a new outdoor special college and these are cropping up across the country. So its the good old housing estate that comes to rural Isle of Wight. At least the wildlife have a biodiversity park to look forward to.
This site should be retained as a school farm as part of the youngsters education. NO MORE BUILDING ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Take action to return holiday homes to use all year long.
Where’s the plan for extra GP surgeries and St Mary’s extension ?
We need more affordable housing, for locals, not newly retired from the mainland. And needs to be near shops as well as extra capacity in the NHS. The 20 somethings are screwed. To get on the housing ladder you need to be earning a LOT of money now.
Where are the jobs for those living in these affordable homes?
It’s the ‘Field of Dreams’ IOW Council strategy again – ‘Build it and they will come!’
As a person that spent my first 22 years living in Newchurch, I would have loved the opportunity to buy an affordable home in the area as I was priced out. I hope that if it goes ahead that the homes are sold to genuinely local and working young people
They are being rented by a housing association. Different ball game imo.