A ‘bridge too far’ and the ‘removal of a historic farm forever’ — public figures including the Mayor of Ryde are making their objections known about the 475-house West Acre Park development in Ryde.
Plans to demolish agricultural barns and build the major development between Appley Road and Bullen Road were submitted by Captiva Homes to the Isle of Wight Council 3 weeks ago.
Captiva is looking to build the 475 houses over 9 phases, which includes 116 social or affordable houses, a cafe, doctors’ surgery and office space.
Planning agents say the proposals present an opportunity to make a worthwhile contribution to the overall need for both private and affordable housing within the local area while making efficient use of the land without it being overdeveloped.
However, local campaigners and public figures are now objecting to the development in an effort to save one the last dairy farm in Ryde — Westridge Farm — where the current tenants have been farming since 1966.
Ryde Mayor, Cllr Michael Lilley, has submitted a 12-page objection to the development to the planning department stating the attempt to create a new village-style development is a bridge too far for Ryde and will ‘overwhelm’ existing facilities.
Cllr Lilley, who lives on nearby High Park Road, also says building on the site will destroy hundreds of years of established eco-system, replacing natural countryside and farmland, increasing carbon emissions and loses the character of the historic Ryde settlement of Elmfield to an ‘urban sprawl’ – even though a main road will separate the 2 distinctive areas and the new West Acre Park would not be visible on the whole.
He said:
“There is an over-concentration of housing development in the East/South of Ryde that [is] already changing the character of the area but pushing totally to breaking point the fragile community infrastructure.”
Another public body, the Environmental Agency (EA) has also submitted an objection to the plan as the current flood risk assessment for the site is not acceptable as it does not take into account issues like climate change, flood mitigation measures over the lifetime of the development or how a range of different flooding events would affect people and property.
The EA said to overcome its objection the developers would need to submit a revised flood risk assessment and it would reconsider its views.
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely is objecting to the plans also, having met with Ryde residents last year who are against the plans, arguing the infrastructure would not adequately support the volume of housing proposed. He said the Island ‘badly’ needs a new housing policy as the planning system has ‘failed Islanders’ as local need has not been met and to build more effectively, in sustainable locations, such as brownfield sites.
Pure greed greed and more greed from developers who dont even live here so wont care about all the freeloading undesirables,crime workload on already stretched services.crazy.stop the scummy breeders getting yet more free homes .weve got enough here thanks.
Iow wants at least some green untouched spaces.getting overpoulated
There was a programme on Radio 4 the other lunchtime – where Maidstone are deciding to knock down their shopping complex, because many of the shops have remained empty for years. They are planning to make new smaller shops, lanes and build houses for a much friendlier place.The programme highlighted the fact that many High Streets have huge, empty shops and likely to have more with the after effect of the pandemic. Newport High Street HMV has been empty for some time now and lets hope that Poundstretcher site gets new tenants quickly otherwise that will be the same. The empty shops and offices could be converted into flats or replaced with houses. A mix is always good. It is possible to have residential in town.
When I was a child living in Ryde, Elmfield, Oakfield, Swanmore were all separate places. There was a wall map at the Ryde Heritag eCentre showing the area as it used to be. Then it started to spread so it is now one large town.
Yes, we need progress but not to the cost of losing precious green spaces which people need even more.
I feel so desperate for the farming family that has farmed that land for 50 years and wish them all the best of luck.
Totally agree. Shades of the dark old days when the rich threw hard working families off the land, for more lucrative deals.
I have seen no shortage of houses, bungalows, maisonettes or flats to rent or buy with local estate agents, and yet we are told we have a ‘housing crisis’ on the island? Surely attempting to flood the market with properties to reduce value’s (if this was even possible) will be detrimental to many mortgage holders, hurting more people than it will potentially help.
Of course for every new home the council revenue would increase but maybe this is an overly cynical viewpoint?
So true, so many estate agents boards in Ryde. For Sale and Let. Lets fill them first. But with these huge developments being planned, where are these people going to find a doctor, dentist and a decent school? I travel to Shanklin for an NHS dentist, can’t get a Doctors appointment at the Ryde surgery. Thank goodness I don’t need the services of a school anymore! Ryde is big enough.
Good, I’m glad the Mayor of Ryde has spoken up and made his objection known. It probably won’t make a ‘jot’ of difference but we’ll done to the Mayor anyway. WE DONT WANT OR NEED ANOTHER 475 PROPERTIES. PENNYFEATHERS IS BIG AND BAD ENOUGH!
And that needs to be stopped
We don’t need Pennyfeathers How many families are on the housing list Only Islanders should be counted People from the mainland will not be able to get a job and will be benefit dependent Also may not like the slower pace of life and probably become a problem We have enough problems on the Island
you’re the biggest.
Stop ALL major developments
Agreed. The Island is so small and “finite”, and falling away at the edges. AND being ruined by “developers”.
Ask yourself WHY more houses need to be built in the UK?
Remember that the British had a declining birth rate.
THINK, as one is not allowed to say the truth now, but THINK why homes are being built to house people now.
It is not hard.
Ask Boris Johnson
The provision of local services as these towns grow is a valid concern. I also agree that they choose green field sites because it’s easier / cheaper to build on. There is a housing shortage. If you walk around Ryde you will see so many houses carved up into flats. Which causes problems for parking and local services. What is also needed is affordable housing so people who have grown up on the island can stay on the island. When the houses in the local estate agents are well over 200k there is no hope for the younger generation and is why so many move away.
It is a shame that these good arguments are undermined by the racist and NIMBY comments.
Richard, many people move ‘away’ not because of house shortages but because of low paid and very limited jobs on the Island.
Hence London has a shortage of homes, and certainly not any ‘affordable’ for most, yet people still flock there because it has more employment prospects.
Most real Island families know that gaining a decent well paid job is hard on the Island, BUT many accept that ‘the way of life’ is better here to live themselves OR to bring up their children without the horrors we too often see on the mainland.
It is fact that our council gets payment for taking in tenants from other mainland councils, thus adding to the problem of finding work for Islanders and of course taking up another home.
If houses were built as they always were, by local builders, a few dozen at a time, then these would be taken up by local families naturally, as has always happened before.
Clearly if suddenly a thousand homes plus are built in one area, then many will be taken from those from outside the Island, and the job’s, doctors, schools, courts, and traffic becomes far far worse, as IF it were ONLY islanders, then ‘they’ are here anyway, so not ‘adding’ to the growing problem.
Whilst hints of race may seem out of place to the naive when in context with housing on the Island issues, it is more than valid, as many people who decide to come here to live are doing so to leave their towns and areas which to them, have become infiltrated with newcomers, so much so, they feel they no longer belong.
As for NIMBY, there is naturally a human desire to not have your environment made worse, and to try to protect such if you can. I imagine you will not be adversely affected by this, and perhaps even ‘gain’ from such.
So of course their will be varying views dependant of ones gain, or loss, sadly most will lose on this in many diverse ways.
Ena, what a marvellous post and reply. So very true in all you observations. Clearly you must be a true Islander and very switched on.
People like Richard, who may mean well, confuse the very real fear of having hundreds of thousands of people arriving with those who object to such doing so. because of a dislike of foreign people.
The same fears would be held if all the ex pat British scattered over the globe all decided to suddenly arrive back home.
The only difference being, that it would be more likely that the British in more cases than most other migrants would have the funds to pay their way and either buy or fund their own rents via funds or pensions, and NOT expect all to be provided by others, yet the work, the taking of green fields, road congestion, needing doctors, education for children etc would STILL be the same problem.
Whatever British or foreign having ever more people wishing to live on a small land mass will cause pressure and strain, and will add to the demise of quality of life for those people already settled so if that is a NIMBY, ‘who isn’t?’
I believe also these shouldn’t be built on greenfield.
The problem is, he can complain as much as he likes, planing permission will be giving… a done deal.