A proposed Freshwater development has been reduced after objectors feared the ‘destructive’ effect it could have on their quiet cul-de-sac.
Revised plans have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council by Tallulah Estates, cutting the units outlined for Birch Close, on formerly agricultural land, from 50 dwellings to 44.
Nearly 50 objections against the greenfield development have been posted including from the Island’s MP Bob Seely, the local branch of the Campaign for Protection of Rural England and Totland and Colwell Councillor Chris Jarman (before he was elected).
Freshwater Parish Council were among objectors and said it would be a major overdevelopment of the land.
With other big projects approved and some being built in the area already, the traffic increase the proposed housing would bring was also thought to be excessive.
Birch Close residents had expressed concerns about the visual intrusion and infringement to their privacy should the application be approved, as 6 windows of 1 of the 2-storey blocks of flats would directly look into their gardens.
Under the new plans, that block of flat has been removed and other properties along the boundary revised into chalet bungalows.
Previously plans were for 38 houses and 12 flats, in a mix of 32 market and 18 affordable properties. The changes will still see 32 houses built but only 6 flats, although providing more affordable houses despite the overall reduction of the site.
Of the 44 properties, 16 would be affordable — providing a range of 1 to 4-bed dwellings in 6 flats and 10 houses.
Plans for the site have been ever-changing since they were first formed in 2017, starting with 40 properties jumping to 60 in 2020 but concerns over some of the dwellings being too cramped slowly saw the numbers proposed working down to 56, then 50 and now 44 dwellings.
Before the revised plans were submitted, agent for the development, Andrew White Planning Consultancy, said the scheme struck an important balance of making efficient use of the site while assimilating comfortably with the density and residential characters that define the surrounding area.
To view the plan, 21/00357/FUL, you can view the planning register. Comments will be accepted until 13th August.
see if this was east wight bob would not give a toss
Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good rant….
I’m sure he objected to the west acre park development that’s in the east wight, if all this house building continues the island will turn into a mass urban sprawl and lose its identity, in the last 5 or so years virtually everyday all you hear about is crime and more crime of all sorts and this will only get worse, what I want to know is where are the jobs for these people moving here, the increase in vehicles and how is St Mary’s and other vital services going to cope, its all about money, easy cash for the council and well as for the planning committee well I’m sure they will receive thier brown envelopes from developers with with a smile
bob and the council dont give two hoots about were the jobs are going to come from. They will still earn and rinse the tax payers of any money honestly ernt by the working backbone of the island and just think how much more the council will get so its not in the interest of both bob and the council to stop this building fiasco.
The true colours were shown less than a few weeks ago when they let planning slide past the planning regs that were given to to a member of the council staff for horses.
I wish your comments were not true, but have to agree, planners have been given the green light to build what they want and where they want and no matter what objections are put forward, it will be passed.
Oh no, not their quiet cul-de-sac
Why shouldn’t someone be able to live in a quiet area? Why do the mob who like to make a lot of noise have to act all as though they are so hard done by and anyone who longs for peace and quiet is selfish, bad, rich, and snobbish? Quite a lot of the time, nothing could be further from the truth. And often those who shout the loudest about being the oppressed are the real oppressors. Oppressors of anyone whose health suffers as a result of having noisy so-called “underprivileged” types inflicted on them.