9,615 new homes, 2 garden communities, over 8 miles of new cycle tracks and a dark skies park are all part of the Isle of Wight Council’s local planning strategy for the coming years.
The draft Island Planning Strategy – which sets the approach to planning for the Island up to 2035 – has been unveiled today (Monday) and Island residents are now being invited to share their thoughts.
The strategy sets out policies, proposals and actions which will meet the social, environmental and economic challenges facing the Island in the years ahead. The document will replace the ‘Core Strategy’ which has been in place since 2012.
Cabinet member for planning and housing, Councillor Barry Abraham, said:
“We must make sure the plan is current and relevant to the short and long term future and reflects the needs of people living on the Island, particularly housing and employment – at the same time as looking to preserve the environment and focus on sustainable facilities and options such as multi-use cycle paths, electric car charging points and energy efficiency when decided future planning applications.
“We have spoken to key stakeholders such as town and parish councils, businesses, health and environment organisations and the building and construction industry for expert and local opinion and this has helped focus the review. Now we want to hear from Islanders, before we present the revised plan for independent examination in 2019.”
The Island Planning Strategy allocates sites across the Island which would be suitable for housing and employment developments, without destroying the identity and character of Island towns and villages. Future planning applications will need to be mindful of the information in the local plan, if they want their application to succeed.
According to the document, some 2,250 of the 9,615 homes could be built in the Newport area at Camp Hill, Newport Harbour and New Fairlee Farm with additional, smaller developments in the area too. In Ryde, St Thomas’ Street car park could be lost to make way for 20 new homes and 555 homes could be built on land to the north of Bullen Road.
The public consultation is now live and will run for 8 weeks until midday Monday 28th January 2019. The plan can be found at https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Planning-Policy-new/The-Island-Plan-Review/Surveys-and-Consultations.
Hard copies of the Island Plan will be available to view at the planning office at Seaclose and County Hall Reception, Newport and the Island’s libraries, during opening hours.
In the interests of sustainability, any comments on the documents should be made via the online portal or by email to [email protected]. Alternatively postal comments can be sent Planning Policy, Seaclose Office, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS.
