Contentious plans for a new 7,245 square metre commercial and leisure park next to Sandown Airport have been appealed following a refusal last summer.
Mr T. Fowler filed an appeal over his proposal for 12 commercial buildings and an aviation museum with 246 parking spaces on land to the west of Scotchells Brook Lane and north of Newport Road near Sandown.
County Hall’s planning committee rejected his application on 31st July last year.
Reasons given included it being an ‘unsustainable form of development which would be reliant on the private car’, its adverse impact on the ‘rural character of the area’ and a lack of information submitted on the ‘potential ecological value’ of a hedgerow proposed for removal.
An Appeal Statement written by Mr Fowler’s agent, Planning & Development Hub (IW) Ltd, said:
“The site is in a sustainable location and is a good example of an economic development opportunity that lies at the heart of the Island Plan’s spatial strategy.
“The design and scale of the buildings are within context whilst the layout serves as an efficient use of space maximising regeneration potential.
“The highways objections are not sustainable. The highways appeal statement shows that the proposals would not generate unacceptable levels of traffic whilst utilising an already approved junction.
Article continues below this advertisement “The hedgerow assessment (updated) confirms that there would not be any unacceptable impact on protected species and are acceptable in all other regards.”
Planning & Development Hub added the proposal could create 500 jobs and that the council had authorised ‘new employment spaces’ in the countryside with ‘far greater impacts’.
The firm stated the scheme would ‘generate significant biodiversity enhancement’ and ‘should not be totally reliant’ on providing a ‘new bus stop facility’.
Great idea, but once Labour’s budget really kicks in
on 1st April 2025. I doubt 500 jobs will be created.
This April Fools Day will ne like no other, get ready
folks.
Seems to me this is an ideal location for such a proposal. So close to the airport which offers modern industries like digital innovators the opportunity to maintain easy contact with the mainland. I would have thought with a little support and some marketing by both the applicant and – dare I say it – the council, we could increase the desirability for industry to locate to the island thus improving job opportunity, general income etc. etc. Lets start getting positive and stop all the narrow minded / blinkered negativity.