Local campaign group ‘Build a Better Bembridge’ are calling on the Isle of Wight Council to build more affordable homes on sustainable sites that can deliver real opportunities for Islanders.
The group, which was originally set up to address residents’ concerns over inappropriate housebuilding in Bembridge, say they want a wider conversation about delivering appropriate homes that meet genuine Island-wide needs. They cite a current planning application on Steyne Road, Bembridge for 11 two-bedroom flats on brownfield land as an example.
Build a Better Bembridge, known as BBB, has been vocal in resisting allocations for building 180 homes on the edge of Bembridge and have criticised the excessive allocation of greenfield land in the current draft Island Planning Strategy.
Reflecting on recent news stories in the local press featuring Bembridge-based developer Captiva Homes, BBB says local campaigners and councillors are being unfairly painted as anti-housebuilding which is not accurate, and have said that they are launching a campaign that calls for housebuilding in places that are affordable and close to local jobs and opportunities.
Sara Smith of Build a Better Bembridge, said:
“We agree that there is a housing need on the Island for low-cost homes including affordable rental accommodation. The key question is how to best deliver it. Developing large chunks of farmland on the edge of villages will swell the bank balances of private developers but it will do little to deliver homes that most Islanders can actually afford. Only a minority of the homes on private land can be designated as “affordable” and even then, affordable only means 80% of market price. When house prices have climbed 20% in the last 2 years in some areas, 80% of the current market price is still very far from affordable for most people. These sorts of houses will appeal mainly to the second home market or investors.”
Local Councillor Joe Robertson, has said:
“Bembridge is already set to deliver over 40 homes by way of approved permissions and future windfall sites. The village has had a longstanding record of delivering housing development and it is not turning its back on delivering for local people in the future. But when the local bank has closed, the local garage has been knocked down and replaced with housing, and the Council are trying to reduce pupil places at Bembridge Primary School we have to take a stand and say enough is enough – we cannot accommodate another 180 additional properties.”
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Captiva Homes has recently announced what it says are a range of environment pledges which include carbon offset against the homes it builds by planting trees and rewilding on land it says it has secured.
Absolutely. Loads of space in Seaview and Bembridge.
The Masons will ensure it always remains that way, for the house builders who are creating the most devastation elsewhere on the Island, don’t will ensure their home village isn’t ruined in the same way.
Akin to saying Buckingham Palace has plenty of room for housing the growing masses of newcomers in London.
It is everyone else BUT those who gain who are ‘adversely’ affected, that you can be certain of.
Perhaps both villages would be the ideal place to house newcomers to the UK.
For the affluent indigenous folk in both these villages seem to be of the perfect mindset to offer employment to gardeners, nannies, dog walkers, and house cleaners.
If such were to live amongst their employers, then travel costs and extra CO2 emissions from transportation would be small, and the workforce could be at beck and call to their kindly masters 24/7.
A match made in Heaven one would assume as they relive the Tory dream of back to Victorian standards.
I’m sorry I just don’t see why we need affordable housing in bembridge, it will just bring the wrong kind of people to what is a lovely place to live, there is a reason why places like bembridge, seaview and Yarmouth are kept nice, keep the dossers out and in ryde and Newport
ha ha ha not all people who need affordable housing are dossers you bigot
Exactly. Comments like this just highlight stupidity. Affordable housing is different from social housing. Bembridge needs both.
The site of the former garage are McCarthy & Stone retirement properties, hardly delivering to the needs of the local young prople. If the council are trying to reduce school places, then surely you do want more, younger residents? It was only a few months back, BBB where saying the school is over subscribed. Make your mind up. I’ve said it before and say it again, it should be called Don’t Build in Bembridge. This place will be dead on its feet if we don’t attract younger people. BBB and Robertson are frauds and liars.
There is a massive chunk of land between Sandown Bay and Nettlestone – the island population could easily double – mark my words.
As most all private housing now has to have a proportion of social housing then so to should Bembridge.
For if the ‘think tank’ plan is the in vain hope that the private home owners will somehow influence the social housing tenants into cutting their lawns, washing frequently, and picking up their dogs mess, then having such living amongst the upper echelons of society can only better these unfortunate families.
All roads in Bembridge ought to house at least one newcomer family and soon the school class sizes would swell ensuring sustainable local education.
A win win for all
Won’t happen Clowncil not that intelligent!