Planners for the Pennyfeathers development in Ryde, which will see 900 new homes built, have said they aim to submit the reserved matters application next month with an aim of the first spade hitting the ground in March 2021.
This comes after calls from the Mayor of Ryde, Michael Lilley, for the developers to let the planning application lapse so they can listen to the people of Ryde and find out what their housing needs are, as it seems the work is ‘stalling’.
Outline planning permission was granted in September 2017 and the company behind Pennyfeathers have got 3 years to submit further details for approval — which runs out in less than 3 months’ time.
2 applications have recently been submitted to change the wording of 3 conditions which planners have said will allow things to run smoothly going forward as the application ‘will be made’ by the deadline.
A further application has been made in relation to Pennyfeathers — to improve the junction at Westbridge Cross incorporating land from the houses, bought by Pennyfeathers Property Company, on Malborough Road, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Glen Hepburn, who runs Hepburns Planning Consultancy with his wife Cathy, said:
“Three years is the law – we cannot change it. The reason the government give three years is because they feel it is the right amount of time to make the application.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is not a standard application for two or three houses – it is a big undertaking where lots of bases have to be covered.
“The reason for the variation condition applications is to try and make sure that when we put the major application in there are things to support it and everything is lined up so we can actually start building.
“What we don’t want to do is put in a planning application, for it to get planning permission and we have to go back and try and vary different conditions — it is nothing more and nothing less than that.”
Hepburns hope to submit the reserved matters application next month but have left a month of slippage if they haven’t got a choice.
Island Echo is told that ground clearance works will then begin at the tail end of 2020 and into 2021, before the first spade hits the ground in March or April 2021 – subject to planning being granted. However, a number of targets have been set over the years which haven’t been met. It was originally hoped that by 2021 over 400 homes would have been built with all nearby roadworks completed.
Responding to criticism, Mr Hepburn said Cllr Lilley had chosen a certain role in the proceedings of the development and can put ‘whatever spin he wants on things’. He said:
“We will ultimately just deal with facts, people make judgements on that. I anticipate [Cllr Lilley] will come from one angle and the people who have been informed will come from a more agreeable angle to us.”
Great news build it soon more jobs
Does make you wonder what the fuss is with the schools when kids would be better off walking round the isles at B&Q as a prep for future job seeking.
You are the developer, I claim my £5.
Terrible news!! More cars not enough jobs once the houses have been built etc. More fields disappearing. Surely the West acre site in Ryde is enough? 500 houses yet to be finished, and what a lovely development that is.
Brilliant news.. Time to move forward and this is a great start to a forward facing island.
So you want to live in a concrete jungle?
And I don’t suppose you actually live near to this site then ? The traffic and parking along Great Preston Road is bad enough now , to get off our drive is like taking your life in your hands every time, we need to go out
A drive you have a drive,wow I dream of having a drive
Ooooooo! You have a drive? How middle class, some people don’t have a home because of the lack of housing but as long as you can get off your driveway safely all is well in the world.
What is the matter with this council. We elect them to do OUR will then they refuse to listen to us when we tell them we DON’T WANT any more houses built on the Isle of Wight. All thast will happen is that there will be no jobs for the new owners so they will all be on benefits and the rest of us will have to pay to keep them.
There are plenty of us that do..
How I wish someone with deep pockets would legally investigate how this abomination came to be passed by Ryde Council. It is not in the interest of locals, or the island as a whole. So who does it benefit?
Good luck to anyone buying a house there. I grew up in the area and it’s a swamp in the wet months
More work and money for the island good news for all
The island infrastructure cannot handle it now let alone with all that being built it’s crazy Newport on a Wednesday and Friday is hopeless no need.
Great news.
To all islanders who don’t vote at the general election, no point in whining and complaining about this huge, unwanted development of 900+ dwellings. This Tory Council does not have the islands best interests at heart, only money. Watch the crime rapidly increase once this Tory council start filling the social houses and flats with the DREGS from the mainland that nobody wants over there due to them causing so much antisocial behaviour and committing crime. Let’s hope Bumbling Boris is not chatting his usual BS and we do get many more police officers back on the island because you know what, ‘were certainly gonna need them’!!!!!
One thing we can be certain of is that Mr Hepburn and friends won’t be living anywhere near it.
glen hepburn should be mindful of the fact that many people do not want this development and also are getting annoyed at being ignored. Consequences of ignoring peoples views are not usually nice, as has been the case whereby protesters have targeted those that do not listen.
I’ve lived in elmfield all my life , I do not want this build ,
1. Traffic is so bad at Macdonalds the road is blocked most days .
2 the ground is so soggy it will need a lot of work, also the houses will need under pinning coz of slippage , houses or flats at the bottom will flood as they do at oak vale .
3 we the isle of wight people wont get a look in as soon as they start building sales will go to mainland people only .
4 why cant they build at camp hill prison site , water, gas ,electric is already there, why dig up green land when all you have to do is knock camp hill down .
5 there is no work here for people who live here now, were are the jobs coming from for all these people we have 1 of the highest unemployment areas in the south, I will gladly protest against this and sit in middle of field with a tent if necessary.
Who on the Island can afford these rabbit hutches??
They will probably be priced from £100,000 and upwards, that that will be for just a 2 up and down.
SO, you work on the Island, its a low income place, so there is NO chance Island people can afford them, which leads to……
Who on earth are these units, yes, that’s what they call them, not homes or houses, are for????