Opinions are divided over plans for a block of 5 flats on a brownfield site in an Isle of Wight town centre.
Ryde Town Council has told County Hall it has no objection to Ian and Carol Hudson’s residential accommodation proposal behind 13 Union Street in Ryde, subject to several conditions such as a legal agreement for affordable housing.
Resident Nick Langford has objected to the planning application however, citing an apparent lack of any off-road parking provision and a neighbour, Jordan Hare, said the apartments will ‘block’ his natural light, being ‘directly outside’ his window.
A third member of the public, Michael Riley, said the development, in and of itself, is a contribution to affordable housing and the applicant ‘should be congratulated’.
Ryde Town Council’s conditions include Section 106 agreements for ‘appropriate contributions’ to affordable housing and the Solent Special Protection Area (SPA) as well as adequate cycle storage and waste disposal provision being installed at the site before the homes are occupied.
Section 106 agreements are legal obligations entered into to mitigate the effects of a development proposal.
The public body also listed an appropriate Construction Management Plan (CMP) being agreed and no increase in surface water runoff.
A CMP helps developers to minimise construction impacts.
Mr Langford said:
“There appears to be no provision for any off-road parking.
“This is already a high-density living area on a narrow road which has double yellow lines its entire length on both sides.”
Mr Riley said:
“No section 106 payments should be required as this is a small development (under ten units) with no specific mitigation required (due to building on vacant land) and minimal impact proposed.
“The units are already small and classed as affordable by their nature, and the increase in housing stock proposed is more valuable than imposing S106 costs on the applicant which may affect its viability.”
A decision on proposal 26/00274/FUL is expected on 25th May.
Parking permits would solve the problem.
Park in a local car park and pay the annual fee.