The redevelopment of the derelict Folly Works site in Whippingham has taken a step closer, with work set to begin on the creation of an improved access road off Beatrice Avenue.
It was in 2016 that planning permission was granted for 82 houses, 17 apartments, a hotel and 14 business units to be built on land off Folly Lane. As part of the £55million scheme, which took 2-and-a-half years to be approved, improved access to Folly Lane was given the green light.
Now, the company behind the major ‘Folly Reach’ plans, Jersey-based Feria Investments Ltd, have given notice to the Isle of Wight Council of their intention to start marking out the section of the new road by applying for a Lawful Development Certificate. Traffic will enter and exit Folly Lane at Beatrice Avenue instead of the main Whippingham Road into East Cowes.
As part of the new access road, a traffic light junction will be created at Beatrice Avenue and Whippingham Road, with a turning lane and an enhanced bus stop – a similar set up to the junction of Stag Lane on the opposite side of the River Medina.
Work must begin by 17th November this year to retain the granted planning permission. Council officials stipulated as a condition that work must begin within 5 years of the approval being given.
By marking out the new road with pegs and rope the developers are expected to satisfy the requirement of starting work before the deadline of November 2021.
A number of pre-commencement planning conditions – things that have to be done prior to work beginning – have been discharged, however, some remain outstanding. Feria Investments say they are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.
It’s unclear when work on transforming the brownfield site will begin proper, but the developers say they will bring forward the programme ‘in due course’ to ensure the dilapidated site is redeveloped in accordance with the approved application.
Brownfield development is good,
Not always. It depends on what form it is. Sometimes and quite often, so called brownfield sites have become more environmentally beneficial than the greenfield sites as they can support a wide variety of species and wild plants.
Also Brownfield sites can be ‘used’ to ensure planning for houses is easily passed..
This works when then the existing ‘business’ which occupied the sold and developed original brown field site then relocates onto a green field site, and then ruins that, and a decade down the line does the ‘same’ ploy again.
Market gardens, stables, large green houses, barns etc have all been ‘used’ to get easy permission to build on green fields, which then becomes brown field, and then owners sells for building and does the same again.
Agreed Terry. But the NIMBY lot will try to block it. They seem to think it’s ok for our children to live in over priced rented accommodation for the rest of their lives because these overners that retired here are more interested in their house prices going up.
I have to live in rented accommodation but I know that so called brownfield sites are often more environmentally advantageous than just a green field with nothing in it except grass. And IE why was my perfectly acceptable reply to Dirty Bounder deleted? Oh for this site to be returned to how it used to be, when there was freedom of speech here.
Intrigued to know where all these people are going to work and even more intrigued to know which GP Surgery they will be registering at.
I’m sure behind a back door somewhere theres a mission to see how many people can be squeezed onto this island, Well before infrastructure i.e Schools, Hospitals, roads & doctor surgeries are even considered…?! Nobody anymore has any foresight, greed runs through the veins of these people sitting behind those doors. Enough now!! Enough.
The easiest way to make millions, buy cheap farmland, thank a few on planning well, and gain millions, and get all the bill payers to cover more NI for more doctors, higher water bills to cope with increased sewage, higher bills to provide landfill, etc via higher c.tax.
Whilst the developers keep ALL the profit. ALL buildings now should be heavily taxed to fund infrastructure. No good only making it applicable to large builds, as all they will do is set up two or more companies to ensure they always ‘build’ the required amount just under the limit.
Add a special building tax on ALL houses at a certain percentage to cover such
At… Jersey-based Feria Investments Ltd, you lost me.
Investors are sitting on land all over the island. Why can’t they be legitimate companies that pay tax, have some traceability and a bit of heart to make our isle better.
Money talks hey!
Stop the blanket term of brownfield. Many people think this means ex industrial land full of rusty rotting machinery. It is not always the case. Often it is land used by wild life and plants and important ecologically
Plenty of trees to be cut down to widen the current access road, I see. Great shame.