New artist impressions of how the long-awaited Pennyfeathers development will look have been revealed as the major scheme once again goes before the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee, with recommendations for approval.
The Pennyfeathers scheme was first touted around 2007 – some 16 years ago – with it taking 6 years for plans to be put forward to the local authority for approval. It was in 2013 that planning permission was initially refused before outline planning permission was granted 2 years later in 2015, but not a single spade has hit the ground in the 8 years that have followed.
Every year there have been promises that work will begin shortly, but nothing ever comes of it – much to the disappointment of those seeking new housing and revelling in the idea of the first major extension to Ryde since Binstead estate was built. It was originally hoped that by 2021 – 2 years ago – 400 of the 900 homes would have been built with all nearby roadworks completed…
Now, the Pennyfeathers name is back on the news agenda as the scheme goes before the Council’s planning committee for a final deliberation next Tuesday. It is hoped that the reserved matters application, which finalises things such as access, appearance and landscaping, will be given the green light almost 2-and-a-half years after it was submitted. Isle of Wight Council planning officers recommend the scheme be approved by councillors.
A taste of what the development could look like is evident through new images released this month – the first new artist impressions in several years.
As previously reported, the development will consist of houses and flats, commercial buildings and a community centre. It will be situated on land between Smallbrook Lane, the railway line and Brading Road – currently unutilised fields.
Even if work was to begin immediately, it could be 2038 before the scheme is finished – a whopping 31 years after the Pennyfeathers name first came to the public’s attention.
Under the plans, the Pennyfeathers development will be split into 7 phases:
- Phase 1 – 123 residential units; Brading Road improvements; 3 areas of open public space; 4 commercial buildings (1 of which would be a new garage and car showroom; an energy centre and the spine road through the site.
- Phase 2 – 205 residential units
- Phase 3 – 195 residential units and the community centre/multi-use building with a sports hall, community/policing space, cafe, office, stage area and changing facilities.
- Phase 4 – 128 residential units
- Phase 5 – 91 residential units
- Phase 6 – 162 residential units
- Phase 7 – a commercial building and open space on the site of Westridge Garage
To enhance access to the site, Brading Road will be widened to create a boulevard and a new roundabout will be created at the junction with Cothey Way. The existing Smallbrook Lane will be closed to create a greenway with an underpass installed to allow pedestrian access under the road at the hump back bridge to connect with the footpath to Oakfield.
Westridge Cross will also be enhanced as part of the Pennyfeathers scheme. It was 6 years ago that 2 houses at the crossroads junction were purchased and fenced off to facilitate the junction’s expansion. In response to Island Roads’ representations, the plans for Westridge Cross have been expanded with 3 lanes of traffic for those heading into Ryde from Brading.
There will also be a dedicated right lane for those heading from Great Preston Road towards Tesco, whereas under the previous plans there was going to be a dedicated left lane heading to Marlborough Road.
Land for a school has been included in the plans — approximately 1.75 hectares — if a new one is required, planners say. However, with a number of excess places in existing schools it seems unlikely this will be needed anytime soon.
I think it’s terrible. You just wait and see.
We should start destroying houses, then the remaining will be worth so much more. If we did a third, the odds are in our favour. Who cares about the ones without.
no one wants it, no one needs it, the island cannot cope with more people, yet these greedy environment wreckers are hell bent on sentencing islanders to more congestion, more pollution, more demand on roads, doctors dentists and other services.
By decimating more of the islands greenfields, natural habitats for birds, insects, creatures and plant life, the only thing they are doing is lining their own pockets, at the expense of the environment, which then allows the council to import more foreigners, benefit claimants, dinghy people and other undesirables to this once beautiful, peaceful and serene island.
deny it, as common sense dictates. the island needs cleaner air, Less people and not more rubbish from more house occupation
those that vote down are clearly demanding that the environment be ruined, the island be overrun with illegal immigrants, benefit claimants and other burdens, longer queues at the doctors, dentists, roads, more rubbish, more pollution and more crime.
please ensure that you do not complain when you suffer the consequences of agreeing with such a stupid development that is not aimed at islanders
Let’s start rewilding, tear down the towns and put cow farms on them. Then the village people will be able to carry on our lives in peace. I’m fed up with urbanists annoying me.
Vandalism at its best. If this fantastic council, that we are lumbered with, think it so good why don’t they all buy up the lovely houses and live there? No? Wonder why.
And corruption at it’s best.
Councillors need to say no – or they will be out of work at the next elections and it is likely that they will get a hard time when seen out and about in their leisure time, by some locals who will be aggrieved at the imposition of such noise, pollution and disruption that they have already said no to.
Our planning department are a disgrace!!! When you have brownfield sites like the old Flamingo Park and Harcourt Sands unused and crying out for redevelopment its criminal to destroy green field sites like Penny feathers.
How is planning department to be blamed when private developers own it but won’t do anything.
Who are these disappointed people seeking a new home? Island Residents?? no I don’t think so, all will be unaffordable to the average Island resident. The artist’s impressions (more like artist license) are nothing more than a wolf dressed up in sheep’s clothing. Plenty of green space left on “Cothey” way to include at least one more row of rabbit hutches. It’s plain to see with the Westridge Farm develpment also coming up for approval next Tuesday both the IW Planning officers and developers are running scared in light of the new up and coming Regeneration & levelling up laws. Hence a frenzied rush to destroy Ryde once and for all.
Looks like army barracks. There is a need for housing for young families , mostly houses that have a nice traditional look with gardens and an off road parking space.
Do not, repeat, not insult the army.
These lovely illustrations are never reality though, take a drive down through the new pan, cars everywhere due to ridiculous parking allowances, why can’t these new estates have front driveways? I suppose this development will at least solve the island’s massive problem with all the homeless people needing housing!!
Certainly forgot the dusky faces on mobiles, not working but dealing in doorways, whilst dim bimbos shove their scrout contents to school all funded by others.
How can a Council be so out of touch with its local residents?
This is almost a thousand new homes, so between two and four thousand people.
These aren’t going to be for local people, these are for new arrivals from the mainland. In 10 years time this will be a run-down estate, a breeding ground for trouble. But, who cares, the Council gets cash out of it.
Instead of a school, how about a medical centre or a hospital ??
Staffed by who? There aren’t enough doctors and nurses for the current hospital.
Just try to imagine, 1,800 more cars in Ryde..? When they go shopping, where will they park ? Also imagine the great income the ferries will make !!!.. 900 homes, prob 50 to locals the rest bought by mainlanders to rent out.. If there was a law that only Islanders could buy property on the Island, then there would be less want or need for more houses… it works in other areas…
And the houses will be bought by 95% mainlanders 4% privat rental and the less well off
will have the option to rent 1% and the council will rake in thousands of council tax payments
to pay for their pensions and new electric cars.
Have I understood this correctly that Smallbrook Lane will be permanently closed, with no through access to/from Ashey Road?
Agree, and do I understand there’s no provision for the desperately needed relocation of MacDonalds??
McDonald’s Ryde is an HEALTH and SAFETY disaster.
Sadly Health and Safety does not exist on the island.
I imagine whoever runs the franchise for McDonalds Ryde is a corrupt
Councillor.
Any decent council would close such an unsafe establishment down.
Zero Law and Order when it comes to traffic tail backs at this DANGEROUS location.
Getting ready for a 15 minute city
This is literally the opposite of that
The Council cannot even STOP persons now parking on Pavements
Outside the old council houses along Great Preston Road in Ryde.
This development is a disaster in the making.
The Island goes from bad to worse.
I agree Jason. This bloody Council do exactly what islanders and the island DOESN’T need or want. Lots of dodgy handshakes and dodgy dealings have gone on to get this through!
Looks great, I’m all for it. This won’t affect me so I’m happy for it to proceed.
More sewage to dump into the sea. More gridlocked traffic.
The Artist’s impressions make it look like a post apocalyptic new frontier township existing outside of reality. The inhabitants will be all on tranquillisers.
On dope, shoving buggies full of ‘assorted’ brats, all paid for by benefits incl rent and c.tax
This whole development is just another blot on the landscape.
St Mary’s will be overwhelmed just reading this news.
Someone only as to sneeze and they go into panic mode.
Another Brown envelope deal on the cards.
I lived in Ryde and promised I would leave the island before I saw this commercially driven environmental vandalism take place. I left late last year and can’t face seeing the permanent destruction of a place I played regularly in growing up.
Ryde crow.
Sadly many people are doing the same on the mainland as the places they knew, grew up in and loved are filled with boatloads of people not speaking the same language, having NO love for the area or country, but coming for the easy life that workers have to fund.
So many of those indigenous people will come here to escape these beings, making our life worse. So mass immigration DOES have a serious effect on the building up of the Island.
When more of the cause of this building decided to arrive here, then the usual hot bed of crime, children in foster homes, more drugs and anti social behaviour will follow as it does wherever they settle en-masse anywhere on the globe.
The Island ruined not for a while, but forever
The poor animals, and the environment they keep ramming down our throats all being destroyed yet they keep blaming us for this. I came here over 25 years ago and I am broken hearted at the destruction of this beautiful Island. You should be ashamed money grubbing at it’s finest.
More CO2 because of imported food. I thought our council was keen on being green, obviously not.
Looks grande on paper 10-1 it will not end up looking like that when finished especially if they get Barratts/David Wilson involved. With the planned number of homes they will also need a GP surgery and Dentist, these need to be incorporated into every large build on Island as currently we haven’t enough for present occupants. Has SW been informed so they can anticipate the water shortage in years to come?
Water not a problem, Tesco will expand its shelves of larger, white cider and ‘energy drinks’ to give stamina to fill the bedrooms as quickly as possible so in 16 more years or less, double the amount of houses will be needed as they ‘outbreed’ their surroundings.
Is it not the lack of social housing that makes up the majority of the housing shortage on the Island?
So how many of these new homes are intended to ease this problem?
I feel very sad as I have lived on the Island all my life, I don’t go to Newport often but noticed how run down & sad it looks now, the multi storey car park looks about ready to crumble to a heap. Lots of people obviously not from the Island creeping in.
But Ryde will be destroyed after this, does that mean the Island has had its full quota of building as we surely can’t be building any more after this monstrosity ?
I just despair at all the extra traffic let’s face it is going to be total gridlock & don’t even get me started on the Doctors & Dentists !!!!!
They MUST take into account the ratio of heath professionals to population, at present it’s no way near that recommended by the Government.(Which should be made mandatory). The present medical services could not even cope with the needs of the amount of people needed to build it
All the money grabbing environment destroying scum involved should hang there heads in shame at this awful shitty shabby chic clad low cost rabbit hutches
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The picture looks like a stairway to heaven don’t let it fool you
Hopefully something will now be done about the McDonalds drive through line up encroaching onto the road blocking traffic. It’s a miracle no one has been seriously injured.
No mention of a Doctors surgery, Fully staffed , no Dentist surgery fully staffed !!!!!!
How can this be given the go ahead ??????
Oh I know, it will enable our council to waste more money (extra council tax)…
Bigger pension pot’s!!!!!!
There’s the answer …..
Beggar the infrastructure!!!!!!
More cuts more excuses coming soon …..
Levelling Up ??????
Ha ha ha remember who drove the farmer out! Would have still been cows in the fields