The Isle of Wight Council has been slammed by a national watchdog for giving incorrect planning advice, among other failings, in a Niton development — dating back to 2018.
An investigation into development at Bridge Cottage, on the edge of Niton, by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) saw the council’s planning considerations heavily criticised.
An inspector determined errors and wrong advice given by the council contributed to more development than might otherwise have occurred. The council has accepted the ombudsman’s findings and says it apologises for the mistakes made and the faults identified.
Multiple buildings have been built on the site although it is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.
The council conducted its own investigations on multiple occasions and requested retrospective planning applications be submitted. The latest is yet to be determined, despite being submitted at the end of 2020.
Locals complained the site was being used for business by the landowner, Martin Cotton — something the council disagreed with.
An LGSCO inspector said the council’s failure to properly assess the development as part of protected sites was a significant failure and led to development classed as permitted development. They said:
“If we cannot rely on the council as the local planning authority to be aware of the position and importance of protected land then it is a matter of serious concern … to ensure that it remains undisturbed.”
Commenting on the ombudsman’s report, an Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said it was an unfortunate error with the digital mapping system that meant the site was not identified as being within the AONB. Because of the error, the permitted development rules were misapplied, the council said, and incorrect advice was given.
The system has since been corrected and planning permission was sought which the council deemed as ‘acceptable in planning terms’ having concluded the impacts and taking into account the designations.
The investigation was launched by the LGSCO after a complaint was submitted by ‘Ms B’ in October 2020, having already followed the council’s complaints procedure.
The LGSCO also found the council misunderstood the permitted development rules and failed to consult with Natural England.
In recognition of the injustice caused, the council has agreed to review its current procedures, officer training has been undertaken already and will pay £300 to a charity of Ms B’s choice.
Another fault was the authority’s failure to notice the initial development had been included in drawings of the retrospective application, ‘unintentionally’ granting permission to the development the council said. Although the LGSCO pointed out created ‘unacceptable uncertainty’ about potential damage to the site.
The council spokesperson sought to reassure the public the planning authority’s decision-making, on the communities behalf, is of consistently high quality.
They should be forced to return it to nature and the individuals who approved it named and investigated fully – then prosecuted for allowing an AONB and SSSI to be destroyed like this. An example needs to be set, so that no building takes place on AONB/SSSI areas and no developments on greenfields on the island, ever.
The same investigation needs to be made at Atherfield. Its about time planning officers, councillors, AONB & SSSi are held to account and shamed for not doing the job they are paid to do. These bodies who WE the public pay to look after our landscape are the ones allowing its destruction and it needs to stop.
Planning what planning, it’s just a free for all and hope you don’t get noticed. SSSI needed for the Old Reservoir in Los Altos, it’s been completely flattened, even though it has been a wild life haven for 20+ years. Hopefully the Red squirrels will stay around ?
So who is forcing the resignation of these officers in planning at the Council? Where is the Council leader on this…… how will the ratepayer know this won’t happen again, there is just no accountability….. this development is a real eyesore…. and the reasons given by council beggar belief, if they don’t know AONB boundaries who does?!?
Wow, that’s a surprise, how can they think the planning department is incompetent. Just another mistake, intentionally or otherwise, made by the idiots we pay to look after our lovely island.
This just highlights the failings of the Council and it’s planning department on the island.
They got away with it years ago, times have changed and the Council need to keep up with the rules regarding AONB. Also, developers need keeping a close eye on to ensure they are building to spec and to plan and not changing what has been passed.
It’s all about money, plain and simple. If you think this council care about islanders, you must be living in cloud cuckoo land. If the tourist board and developers want, they get… Anyone got a bulldozer for hire ?
A bulldozer would come in handy to knock down the outstanding beauty of the council office’s…..
And all the muppets with it …..
Excuse after Excuse doesn’t wash anymore £300 for training??????
Should be qualified before being let loose !!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Concrete jungle jigsaw still ongoing!!……..
This is what happens when the NIMBY lot block every planning application. The council say ‘f it’ and let all go though.
Probably the same lot that said it’s fine for godshill cherry farm to build on the site which is on a SSR LAB but allowed to put concrete down and dig out banks that leads on to public right away with no side supports
So no punishment, no consequences, no making up for the complete failure to do jobs properly, but they will donate some of your hard earned tax money to a charity to make up for it, how very public sector