The Isle of Wight Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has published its formal response to the Draft Isle of Wight Housing Strategy published by the Isle of Wight Council in January 2020.
CPRE is concerned that without an annual housing target it is incredibly difficult for anyone to comment constructively on the Island Housing Strategy. The number of 675 houses a year for the
next 15 years is said to be ‘under review’ but currently stands. This number is unprecedented in the history of the Island and would entail thousands of acres of lost greenfield sites across the island including the introduction of Garden Community Settlements or new towns across the Island.
CPRE Isle of Wight objects strongly to such a target.
According to CPRE, the Island Housing Strategy Draft Document understates the impact of housing currently planned on the Island over the next 15-20 years and attempts to argue that housing will be for Islanders. CPRE Isle of Wight commissioned independent research in 2019 which shows that the Island’s natural population is declining. This means most of the houses planned are for those looking to move to the Island. There is simply no mandate from Islanders to build to this extent.
Commenting on the draft housing strategy, Alex Haig-Thomas, Chairman of the Isle of Wight CPRE said:
“This draft housing strategy appears to represent a pro-development manifesto Islanders simply don’t want. Rather than reflecting the wishes of so many Islanders to protect the Island’s rural landscape, the Council appears determined to develop on our greenfield sites around the Island.
“The draft strategy features multiple misleading statements regarding the “need” and desirability of large-scale greenfield housebuilding on the Isle of Wight. With a declining natural population, any large scale house building primarily serves those looking to move here.
“The Council must now deliver, and dedicate sufficient resources to put forward the most compelling case possible to de-couple Island housing policy from flawed central government derived Standard Methodology for assessing housing need. Islanders young and old deserve a bespoke housing policy that serves real local housing need whilst recognising the constraints of fixed Island infrastructure and protecting our unique landscape.”
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Very typical of the Isle of Wight Council, to do just what they (and their puppet masters in central government) want, irrespective of the evidence or views and needs of local people.
This draft housing strategy appears to represent a pro-development manifesto Islanders simply don’t want. Rather than reflecting the wishes of so many Islanders to protect the Island’s rural landscape, the Council appears determined to develop on our greenfield sites around the Island.
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Couldn’t have put it better myself. These local bureaucrats are only interested in building more houses, to accommodate more people from the mainland, which will boost council tax revenues and their subsequent pay packets. They could not care less about the island way of life and the environment.
We see daily in the Echo, comments from councillors about how they are committed to reversing climate change and being ethical and environmental in their way of working, yet their actions speak far louder.
They want to create more concrete boxes, more pollution by having more people, more Carbon in the atmosphere by having more cars on more tarmac roads, more rubbish generated for isle of wight landfills, more people, more demand on services and more mess. ALL FOR MONEY OVER THE ENVIRONMENT.
At the same time they want to reduce the carbon reduction capability of the island by cutting down trees, destroying the flora that also helps in natural carbon capture, as well as destroying the habitats of the fauna that call the island their home. The tress and other plant life not only take carbon out, they put oxygen back in – which we need to breath.
Councillor Lilley wants to create a sustainability fund, but wants to build houses – does he actually believe the crap he talks.
Whilst fully in agreement with your comment, I wish to add that many of the ‘mainlanders’ who you say will likely fill a massive proportion of these new homes are moving here to get away from the vile crimes, the drastic change in culture that they once knew and loved in their home towns, villages and Cities.
The unorganic filling of the UK with those who come here by fair means or foul, are forcing many to escape to places less burdened. This is fact, so we are indirectly effected, as many parts of the mainland are, by more building and ruination of our beautiful countryside.
Totally agree that they care nothing for landfill, road congestion, overcrowding, schools, doctors, dentists, bursting with too many people, as the higher the total of council tax, the ‘less’ their growing salaries look in proportion.
The UK is now ruined, not for a while, but forever, as time will make the problem worse, not better, and that is why people get so angry and defensive when the council, as you say, for money are then are happy or indifferent to then ruin here for the rest of time as well.
Once the next huge generation of newcomers all have children, I feel sorry for our young. Politicians should hang their heads in shame, but, like our council, so long as ‘they’ are better off, and can live, work, and play miles away in leafy lanes, with a massive beautiful home or two they care nothing for the rest of the British people many of whose lives have been ruined now.
Good stuff CPRE, a credible and useful response report which can be thrown against this obsessive expansion drive. Hope it has influence where it matters.
With shops remains empty as no one can afford the extortionate rents / rates. Why not turn them into flats/apartments. Nationally at least this would ease the housing market and help save our green sites.
That’s probably echoed by the majority of us living here. The policy is seriously flawed in favour of developers, and a few nameless others. How can you , as councillors, say you have local interest at heart, when you ignore the wishes and opinions of the electorate. Not the democracy we are voting for !!!
“Not the democracy we are voting for !”
Ahh yes,.. but you (not necessarily you Terry, but the majority on the IOW), voted for this bunch of self-serving conservative councillors, who have no care for the wants and needs of the electorate, only their own egos and self-interests. Politicians who will blatantly lie to get voted into power & then ignore everything they promised to get there.
Exactly the same as with central government 🙁
When are y’all gonna learn…. conservatives are only interested in lining their (and their friends) own pockets at the expense of the general populace. with them it’s not about what’s best (for the country, the economy, the environment, the people….),… only what’s best for them!
sadly Daemy the other parties are no different – the tories were voted in as they were the least worst of the bunch. Even the greens are advocating building houses now – labour would just build bucket loads of housing under the banner of housing the homeless after they had opened the asylum seeker floodgates.
This is the state of british politics now – vote in those that are least likely to damage your own pocket and your environment.
The tories won, not because of being the best, but because they had a lack of credible opposition and they were willing to deliver what the people wanted – Brexit.
Had the EU given David Cameron and the people of this country what they asked for, then the referendum would never have happened.
Its the same all over the country , the “stratagy” is not fit for purpose and should be thrown in the bin.
When the entire Island is covered in concrete what would visitors come to see here to see? Looking at the current weather and the flooded roads and fields that result, I can imagine that our future world-class waterfalls cascading from Culver and Freshwater Downs hundreds of feet into the sea below will attract thousands every year! Bring it on you IW Councillors, I cannot wait (but just remember that Local Elections will soon tell you where your bread and butter comes from)