Residents have finally begun moving into the new £18million Ryde Village development but others are facing further delays due to a major issue with the site’s planning permission, with solicitors warning against completing on purchases.
The 9,000 sqm Ryde Village has been delivered by Morgan Sindall in partnership with Isle of Wight Council, Homes England, Funding Affordable Homes and Southern Housing Group. It offers 102 extra care apartments and bungalows, making it the first of its kind on the Isle of Wight.
It hasn’t been a smooth process to get residents moving into their new homes though, with delays throughout 2020 having caused anguish for many elderly locals, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Now, solicitors are warning their clients not to complete on purchases just yet due to a planning irregularity, which could render the properties worthless.
The issue relates to a reserved matters application in March 2018 which stated the development had to be commenced by 5th June 2018, which it was. However, it is claimed that the effect of condition 4 of the original outline planning permission in 2013 required the development to be commenced by February 2018, but work didn’t begin until March of that year. It’s claimed that the reserved matters application doesn’t hold weight over the 2013 planning permission and therefore, technically, the development has not met the requirements of the planning permission.
Despite the Isle of Wight Council stating they are not asking for another planning application to be submitted, The Funding Affordable Homes Housing Association (FAHHA) say they are putting in a further joint planning application to the Council, together with the owners of the 2 other undeveloped parts of the Ashey Road site, to regularise the planning issue. However, this is likely to take 3-4 months to correct, meaning would-be residents may be still waiting to move in April of next year.
The FAHHA says that they are happy to work with prospective residents to either exchange and complete ahead of new planning permission being issued, or to exchange now but delay completion until the new planning permission has been obtained.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has told Island Echo:
“The development of the bungalows at Ryde Village did begin within the timescale set out in the planning decision. The Isle of Wight Council believes the decision is valid and provides consent for the development of the properties. Anybody who needs the council to express a view on a particular property should contact the planning office for advice. Various parties have already approached us for assurances about this. We have given them this information in writing and would be willing to do so again if asked.
“The council has not asked for a new application to be submitted nor does it believe one is required to occupy those properties that have been built. Any new application is likely to cover a range of issues, but we are not aware of any outstanding matter that would prevent purchasers from occupying the new homes currently on the site”.
The development consists of 63x 1-bedroom and 12x 2-bedroom apartments in a facility that also contains communal social spaces and additional care facilities, which the bungalow residents will also have access to, allowing for easy access to on-site support. The 27x 2-bedroom bungalows sit next to the main apartment block and are available on a shared ownership basis.
Laurence Basturkmen, director at Morgan Sindall Later Living, said:
“The aging population is a pressing issue across the country, but particularly so on the Isle of Wight. These high-quality apartments and bungalows at Ryde Village provide residents and their families with the peace of mind of independent living, where care and help are available if required.”
Cabinet member for regeneration and business development Councillor Wayne Whittle said:
“Ryde Village is a huge contribution to making the council’s Independent Living Strategy a reality, and significantly improving the housing offer for our older and more vulnerable members of the community. Ryde Village is giving Island people looking to move another, better option.”
The cohesive, verified communication between all concerned with this development has been poorly executed from the start. This is regardless any related Covid 19 issues. Both the developers and legal parties involved in proceedings have had ample opportunity to spot this deadline date needed to be extended.
Yet more delays for those who are attempting to purchase a property onsite, leaving those affected having to spend thousands of pounds on rental property, which is often not suited to their additional needs and has no long-term security .Poor show all round!
I was surprised to read this and wondered how such a large project could have been run so chaotically and had so many avoidable problems and then I saw that it had the ‘expert’ involvement of the council and a nest of taxpayer funded quangos – no further explanation needed
Now come on children, pick up those toys, behave yourselves and go to bed, otherwise Father Christmas won’t come.