Greenfield housing plans have officially been submitted in Seaview by the prestigious Eton College.
Intention to build houses on the site by the world-famous college has been known for some time, but now plans for 9 2 to 4-bed houses and bungalows have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.
Planning agents Fowler Architecture and Planning, on behalf of Eton College, said the site, locally known as ‘The Donkey Field’, represents a ‘logical in-fill extension of the existing settlement’.
Sitting behind properties on Solent View Road, agents say the buildings would be located a suitable distance from existing buildings and oriented to ‘respect any views from neighbouring properties’.
Trees on the site are also thought to be protected, as developers say existing trees will be retained, and preservation orders are on all of them.
The orders were installed last year after a much-loved local tree, believed to be over 100 years old, was felled by the college.
Hedgerow to the west of the site would also be retained and the development said to be ‘landscape-led’ to ensure it ‘sits comfortably within the rural setting’.
Road access to the site would be brought down from Seagrove Farm Road, leading on from the proposed eight-house development in the field above it.
Island Roads, however, has suggested the application be refused due to the generation of traffic through substandard junctions and along a substandard access road.
The highways officer said following inspection of the roads in the area, the significant uplift in daily traffic movements on roads with limited width and visibility, brought about by the proposal, is to the detriment of highway safety to the extent they were unable to support the proposal.
It is a sentiment shared by many of the 12 objectors who have already commented on the application.
One objector said they were horrified at the prospect of the ‘last open green space in East Seaview and Nettlestone’ to be swallowed up by the housing schemes with another saying it would destroy the natural boundary between the two villages.
To view the plans, 21/01776/FUL, you can visit the council’s planning register. Comments will be accepted until October 22.
‘The Donkey Field’, represents a ‘logical in-fill extension of the existing settlement’. says the developer – well they would, wouldn’t they.
No it is not a logical in fill – it is an illogical development of a greenfield asset that is currently removing CO2 from the atmosphere and putting oxygen back in – that we need to breathe – it should remain, unless of course the council wish to reduce the islands ability to remove CO2 by allowing this disgusting development and destruction of the islands greenfields by a snobby college many miles away, that will be unaffected.
Money goes to money, bit ironic….lol.
Shame they are not housing association. # share the wealth.
No more housing fullstop! Social housing can bring a whole area down to a lower level so spoiling it for existing residents who then want to up & leave & relocate to a better area. If every area had social housing like the do gooders want, then there wouldn’t be any area left that was better. People are not all the same, some are better human beings than others, regardless of background, and people should not be forced to be lumped in all together with totally different types of people that they don’t feel comfortable being around & often feel threatened by & alarmed by. Not all occupants of social houses are like that, obviously!
Eton’s most infamous son has set the standard – or rather, the double-standard – for public responsibility, so through it goes!
This should be stopped at all costs, why should Eton need to build houses here. Go build them elsewhere. If this council allow this then, they are in for a tough time the next time there is a vote.
Yes the council must think 4 years is a long time but we have a longer memory Dear council
Should put in the covenants that you can’t rent or Air B&B the property and it has to be your main residence. Then locals may have a chance to buy one.
Alas, unenforceable.
They tried making a clause with affordable housing in Bembridge that it must be sold to Islanders. Yet it only has to be on offer to such for three months, so an ex P.O is refusing all lower offers for three months knowing that then he can sell to richer mainland buyers and get far more for it.
People always cheat the system.
Island homes, for Island people, that so desperately need them, on Island land!!
If anyone cares to look online to view all the beautful country scenery around the (Charitable Status) Eton College, there appears to be no “logical infill” there. I wish these developers would leave the crucial and necessary remaining, lovely green fields of Bembridge (or anywhere else on this tiny Island) alone.