Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has registered his objection to controversial plans for the building of 50 new homes on greenfield land in Freshwater, branding the development as ‘not for Islanders’.
Today (Tuesday) is the last day for comments on the application by Tallulah Estates, which would see 38 houses and 12 flats built as an extension to Birch Close, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Mr Seely said the proposed construction of homes on land to the East of Birch Close would have a detrimental impact on the existing residents of Colwell Road.
He said:
“Squeezing more and more houses into the few remaining green fields within our towns will destroy the quality of life that residents seek.
“The privacy that the residents of Colwell Road currently enjoy will be removed by the construction of these dwellings. Plans for all new housing must consider existing residents and services as well as the impact on the environment and our visitor economy.
“I feel strongly that local voices must be heard and respected in the planning process and I urge decision-makers to refuse this application.”
Mr Seely went on to say that the homes were not planned with Islanders in mind. He said:
“The houses proposed are not for Islanders. They are predominantly three- and four-bedroom houses which the Island has in abundance.
“We currently lack affordable one- and two- bedroom homes to accommodate Islanders young and old.
“The vast majority of these houses are not affordable. They are largely market houses targeted at people with money, likely those seeking to move to the Island as opposed to those already living here. They are not affordable to Islanders who need homes.
“Moving forward, I will work with the Council to ensure that brownfield sites are prioritised for the construction of new affordable homes that meet the needs of Islanders.”
The application has so far been recommended for refusal by Island Roads on grounds including inadequate vehicle access visibility for 17 of the plots, insufficient onsite pedestrian provision, and a lack of green travel measures.
You can comment on the application with reference [21/00357/FUL].
But Mr Seely, your party and the one previous have been importing 300,000 people net each year for the last 24 years and are continuing to do so, most of these flock to cities/suburbs in and around the south East where they displace local residents who are then pushed out and move somewhere further afield – at a conservative (no pun intended) estimate, government policies have required the allocation of at least 2 million new or existing homes to newcomers since 1997, you cannot seriously pretend this is not what drives the constant need to concrete over much of southern Britain, irrespective of who buys houses here
and when those of us with cash, have cleared off to the sunny places all these migrants left, which will have plenty of open space, beautiful climate, plenty of lush greenland, because of the drop in population, those left behind in the uk will be living shoulder to shoulder in a hot, dirty, miserable, concrete jungle with poor air quality.
He’s right, but he’s the cause! Need affordable housing schemes where a percentage are made available to first time buyers who already live and work on the island. The Tories sold the council housing stock, now we have people paying throw the nose for rented flats and houses. And labours only fix is to fund more of it with benefits because they know the prosperity we have is built on rising house prices. It’s a house of cards that’ll the generation growing up now will have to deal with. My generation will not. It’s the teens now that will pay. They really are screwed.
House price inflation, as encouraged by every government and most tabloids, is the most serious financial effect in our society.
Nobody wins, except estate agents, developers and lawyers (and the recipients of the brown envelopes).
Rental housing stock is essential, yet almost entirely now in private hands, following successive Tory governments.
Let’s hear some practical, credible proposals from would-be Councillors!
The private landlords also do pretty well. Owning more than one property should be illegal, and rental properties should only be owned by Local Councils and legitimate Housing Associations. Trouble is, property owners will always be opposed to these measures.
I drove around the diversion in East Cowes today ,totally shocked by the size of the housing crammed in !!!
So with all the planned housing it will be a concrete jungle with rabbit hutches !!!!!
I can agree with that, we lived in EC, wife grew up there. The diversion opened my eyes to the massive urban sprawl there. Sad to see so much green built on.
Once again what our member (absolutely true) doesn’t say speaks volumes. One close is not right for Wight, but no condemnation of hundreds of houses in an imminent rape of Ryde’s beautiful, wildlife rich, landscape.
Mr Seeley. Please show me a recent housing development that this conservative council has approved that has been “right” for islanders.
Don’t vote for this utter hypocrite the next time we can. Doesn’t give a monkeys unless it’s near election time for him or his tory mates in the council.