Revised plans for a 12-home development on Newport’s Landscape Lane have been met with renewed backlash. The latest in a long line of application proposals from Mrs C. Ferns, of Cotton Trust, has attracted a raft of criticism ranging from concerns centred on the environment, noise and privacy to those relating to transport, safety, affordability, traffic and flooding. Mrs Ferns’ updated plan was submitted on 27th June and includes a couple of 2-bed bunaglows and 1x 3-bed bungalow. Also featured are a couple of 4-bed detached houses, 3 detached houses with 3 beds each, a 2x 2-bed semi-detached houses, as well as 2x 3-bed detached houses. Other updates include footpath provision to Staplers Road, a different layout, altered roof forms, the removal of garages and greater turning space for parked vehicles. According to consultant town planner Phil Salmon, Mrs Ferns’ agent, the development would be built on grade 3 agricultural land, defined by Natural England as ‘good to moderate quality agricultural land’. A total of 27 public objecting comments have been posted on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal, most of which are from Newport residents. A spokesperson for Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council commented:
“There are serious concerns for both traffic and pedestrians regarding this development. “Landscape Lane is not as well used as the application states, and the proposal is to change this from a narrow, single track, rural lane into an access to a housing development. “Although guidance and comments are still outstanding from Island Roads for this application, the entrances to this lane are local blackspots and have experienced many near misses.”
Edward Nicholson, chair of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Isle of Wight, commented:
“The site is remote from the town centre and poorly situated for active travel, since there are no safe cycling or wheeling routes in the area. “CPRE Isle of Wight advocates for urban sites being rebuilt for housing, rather than towns growing into surrounding farmland.”
Island Roads’s Highways Representation submitted on 10th July did not object to the latest development plan but outlined conditions regarding highway works and a construction management plan.
This is a gateway development to a much larger development at a later date.
I believe it’s known as Mission Creep
this is greenfield agricultural land – the answer is no.
Do not build on good quality agricultural land. There are plenty of urban sites and brownfield sites on the island. gfy
Yeah, but the DFLs and 2nd homers don’t want to live of ex-brownfield sites, do they?
But farmers are not wanted by our government so you don’t need farmland