Plans to build houses near Arreton Primary School have been refused after fears were voiced that the development would eat into the countryside.
Local farmers, A. E. Browns, was seeking permission to build 3 properties on one of its Greenfields in Arreton — next door to Arreton Primary School.
The plans were for 2x 3-bed houses and 1x 2-bed bungalow, which planning agents on behalf of the applicant, BCM said were suitable for the modest site and designed to fit in with the area, at the bottom of Arreton Downs.
The Isle of Wight Council disagreed and rejected the plans earlier this month on the grounds that the homes would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area due to their size, location and position.
In its decision notice, the planning authority said the proposed dwellings would fail to protect and preserve the visual amenity of the plot or the wider rural nature and would appear ‘detached and out of character’ with the existing pattern of development. Officers said the land is seen as countryside and contributes significantly to the area’s pleasant, rural character and appearance, not as being surrounded by development.
The notice also said extending the built form onto undeveloped, agricultural land would result in a ‘detrimental and incongruous’ development, ‘eroding a pleasant and open green space’ which has a sense of ‘tranquillity and rural seclusion’.
The proposals were not popular with some members of the community, with 11 objections received including from Arreton Parish Council and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership.
Among reasons the parish council objected including flooding risks, it would be out of scale and the housing wouldn’t meet the needs of the village as there are other developments already approved.
The AONB partnership said the development would appear to ‘encroach into undeveloped countryside’ and works to School Lane proposed, including resurfacing and widening it, would have ‘significant urbanising impacts’ to the narrow, rural lane.
Other concerns raised by residents include highway safety concerns, ecological impacts and a lack of archaeological survey, as the site lies close to the core medieval settlement of Arreton.
A shame they did not adopt this stance on all the other greenfield sites they have allowed development on.
Simple really
Election time is getting closer
Nothing new as councils and governments start to pull fingers out at the last minute to gain votes
Three homes, not 90, yet refused !..Council need to be sorted, they allowed hundreds on farm land at Pan Meadows destroying acres of wildlife land and destroyed countryside. Also in Shalfleet allowing dozens of grey shed houses on farm land and latest in Ryde another huge number of homes on farm land. Not to mention Oak Value some year’s back that totally out of character and damaging to environment. Oh and the ever increasing estate – Blue Bell’s in East Cowes,also on farmland. Soon Arreton Primary will close due to low numbers and end up being developed.
Oak Vale hardly damaged the environment, it’s built on an old scrap yard, vast improvement!
Good shame they don’t stop all the other housing developments on Greenfield site’s ,and spoiling our countryside views wildlife etc etc…..
“Plans to build houses near Arreton Primary School have been refused after fears were voiced that the development would eat into the countryside.”
That reason should be used to refuse ALL planning applications for large developments on the island.
That would encourage and allow “in fill” applications and building residential properties on the large, empty shops in Newport town centre for a start.
Totally agree. There are vast numbers of unoccupied commercial buildings that can be repurposed for housing.
A win win – less unmaintained unused eyesores and increased usable housing stock
Where is the consistency in decision making with the Planning Officers and IOW Council when 3 houses are refused on a greenfield site because they will be ‘eroding a pleasant and open green space’- and yet it is ok to destroy a working dairy farm at Westacre, consider another 900+ on a greenfield site at Pennyfeathers, and 200 on greenfield sites in Bembridge. One might be tempted to think there is collusion between certain developers and our Council!!
I cannot believe that this extremely modest development was turned down when the same Isle of Wight Council voted on August 4th to allow the West Acre Farm development of 473 new houses near Ryde to go ahead.
Most of the councils reasons for rejecting this application would apply equally to the West Acre Farm development.
Something is not quite right here ?
So 3 small houses are ‘eroding a pleasant and open green space’ which has a sense of ‘tranquillity and rural seclusion’. and yet the 400+ on a dairy farm at Westacre, 900+ on a greenfield site at Pennyfeathers and 200 on greenfield sites in Bembridge don’t? There doesn’t seem to be any logic or consistency behind planning decisions made on the IOW – enough to make a person think there is collusion between certain developers and the planning department!!
I do not understand.?
About ten years ago they approved 90 homes in a field about 500 foot down the road.?
I don’t think they have been built yet, it was the field next to the entrance to the old Manor house
So building 4 properties in Arreton is rejected on the grounds that “the proposed dwellings would fail to protect and preserve the visual amenity of the plot or the wider rural nature and would appear ‘detached and out of character ‘ with the existing pattern of development. Officers said the land is seen as countryside and contributes significantly to the area’s pleasant, rural character and appearance, not being surrounded by development. The notice also said extending the built form onto undeveloped, agricultural land would result in a detrimental and incongruous development eroding a pleasant and open green space which has a sense of tranquility and rural secclusion”
However; building over 400 properties in Ryde would not!!!!!!
The same argument made to refuse this, could be made to any greenfield development in Arreton. 3 houses is miniscule compared to how much farmland there is in the area.
Yet they are happy to erode any green area in Ryde. Beggars belief. These decisions just highlight how inconsistent their logic is, and how the public’s confidence continues to erode.
I hope everyone will donate to the Save Westridge Farm Campaign. The letter of intent from the Campaigns Solicitors to the IW Council regarding a judicial review is now available to read on the Crowd Justice website.
If this Campaign fails, it will be in essence giving the IW Council a free license to do what ever they like, regardless of the environment, and residents views.
This is our one and only chance to stand up to this Council.
I’m with you on this Denis, I do hope that more contribute, I know times are hard at the moment but this is our one chance to stand up to this ineffective planning committee. Just £5 from every household or maybe club together with friends and family to get us over the threshold. A war of words is not working, a successful legal claim against them will make them think twice how they vote in future.
The Browns are just getting a bit too greedy and the council are reining them in.
A brown envelope usually does the trick.