A proposed mixed-use development with at least 60 homes, a ‘generous’ share of ‘affordable’ housing and a retail outlet is facing resistance from an Isle of Wight local authority.
At its Tuesday meeting (2nd December), Freshwater Parish Council (FPC) agreed to object to Stephen Hucklesby’s revised outline plans for Heathfield Farm Campsite next to Freshwater’s Colwell Road.
The plans previously came up against significant opposition, including from Empowering Islanders county councillor Chris Jarman, the Campaign to Protect Rural England Isle of Wight and FPC.
Concerns included those relating to flooding, inadequate drainage, the development’s effect on the area’s character, the timeliness of bat survey reports, increased traffic and resulting congestion, and pedestrian safety.
Those raised in FPC’s latest objection include the loss of Heathfield Farm Campsite which it describes as an active, award-winning holiday park and visitor destination, and a long-established wildflower meadow, pollution and nitrate runoff into the Solent and a ‘severe cumulative highways impact’.
Among pages of criticisms presented by councillor Becca Cameron at the meeting, the council also voiced alarm over landscape and character harm, insufficient local services capacity and a significantly increased landslip and erosion risk.
An updated Design and Access statement from Rainey Petrie Architecture said ‘some 38 per cent’ of the proposed homes would be ‘affordable’.
The development will be on land ‘identified and proven’ as a ‘viable location’ for sustainable housing, with ‘readily available’ links to public transport infrastructure.
Rainey Petrie Architecture said.
“When considering the site constraints and desire to retain much of the boundary tree lines, our design proposals have achieved a plot delivery of 63 units, closely matching the council’s speculation and securing a delivery of housing stock in line with their projected numbers,”
“Plot numbers have been subsequently reduced to allow for a more open green space to ensure public amenity value of the site and to ensure sufficient on-site translocation of reptile species.”
County Hall’s public consultation on proposal 24/00993/OUT ends on 12th December.
There should be a higher percentage of affordable housing offered, since that’s what our housing crisis is all about isn’t it? Wait no, builders build for greed and not need.
So true, we need foreign builders, better workmanship
at better rates.
Just ffs stop building on this tiny island, no room to move as it is.
Good decision that needs to be upheld and appealed.
The island is becoming gridlocked, too many vehicles
on the island.
Yeh, because there’s so much here that attracts people. Shops closing at 4 pm or earlier, vibrant night life and innovative council (not), decaying buildings from yesteryear, rip off cafes and restaurants, worst education results in the country. There may come a day when we wish folk DID want to live here.