A contentious proposal for 2 village chalet bungalows has been thrown out by the Isle of Wight Council who said the plan represents an ‘intrusion’ into the ‘open countryside’.
Perry Properties’ application to build two four-bedroom homes next to Whitwell’s High Street has been refused, with planners giving five different reasons.
County Hall recorded an objection from Niton and Whitwell Parish Council as well as 42 letters opposing the scheme, raising concerns such as flooding issues in the area, the project not being for the benefit of residents and its impact on a public footpath.
The applicant’s agent, BCM Wilson Hill, previously said ‘no unacceptable impacts’ arise relating to design, landscape character, heritage assets, residential amenity, highway safety, flood risk, biodiversity or servicing considerations.
A decision report said:
“The application represents an intrusion into the open countryside and a form of backland development that would be detrimental to the character of the area, appearing out of keeping with the pattern of development.
“Insufficient information has been provided with the application so that the Local Planning Authority (LPA) is not able to fully assess potential impacts of the proposed development on protected species, to ensure proposed mitigation and landscape, biodiversity and ecological enhancements would be effective and would secure a biodiversity net gain.”
Other reasons included the LPA being unable to properly assess potential effects of the development on trees due to a lack of submitted information, and the plans failing to comply with affordable housing planning policy as well as a supplementary planning document.
Planners also said the application did not provide confirmation that there are credits available from a strategic mitigation site, to mitigate nitrate impacts of the development.
