The next stage of a major housing development on the Isle of Wight, which is set to bring over 900 new homes to Ryde, has been refused.
The fate of Pennyfeathers was once again discussed by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee yesterday (Wednesday), after running out of time at a previous meeting.
During yesterday’s crunch meeting, a number of questions were raised by the committee – but some of those present didn’t seem to understand that they were there to discuss the reserved matters application, not the overall outline permission which was previously approved some 6 years ago. A number of points were raised that had already been answered too, such as the cycle lane provision on the existing Smallbrook Lane.
Committee members did not view the application favourably and voted, 6 to 1, to refuse the major development, stating issues with the layout and cycle path. This went against the Council officer’s recommendation of approving the application.
The Pennyfeathers scheme was first touted around 2007 – some 16 years ago – with it taking 6 years for plans to be put forward to the local authority for approval. It was in 2013 that planning permission was initially refused before outline planning permission was granted 2 years later in 2015, but not a single spade has hit the ground in the 8 years that have followed.
Leading the refusal, Councillor Geoff Brodie said the proposed siting of the community centre needed to be nearer to the existing community so people can become integrated with Ryde and not an add-on. The community centre is set to be located near the bottom of the new Smallbrook Lane, which would be next to an area of land earmarked for any future school and opposite the multi use games area (MUGA).
Cllr Brodie said:
“I think you are creating major problems with the layout of this development, major social problems in the future and a better job can be done.
“I will support an application for up to 900 homes on this site if it is a good application and this is not good.”
Seconding the move, Councillor Vanessa Churchman had said she found the layout of the site appalling, with the MUGA and the community centres in the wrong place and too far away from the main estate. She suggested the MUGA should be located next to Busy Bee Garden Centre alongside a major road.
Cllr Brodie also raised concerns about the estate becoming a rat-run, with traffic being funnelled through the main road to avoid snarl-ups at the Westridge Cross junction, but planning officers pointed out that it was the intention — moving traffic away from the busy junction.
Councillor Michael Lilley said he was really disappointed with the proposal as it could have been inspirational, with 300 desperately-needed affordable homes, but what has been presented was actually painting by numbers and housing chosen from a ‘very poor catalogue’.
He said:
“We would be doing a disservice to the community and future generations … we need to say this is not good enough.”
Questions were raised about the mysterious nature of the developers behind the major scheme and how it could be evidenced that housing would be delivered.
The planning applications have been submitted by former Island planner, Glen Hepburn of Hepburns Planning Consultancy. Other parties are unknown, but it is assumed that the site may be sold off to a major national housebuilder.
The applicants are set to appeal the decision to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate, especially as the outline permission has now lapsed and therefore another reserved matters application cannot be submitted. It means that there is potential for the whole planning application process to be started again from scratch.
If the ground is ever broken, Phase 1 of the Pennyfeathers scheme would see 123 homes built – of which 24% would be affordable and 11% shared ownership – as well as 4 commercial units, an energy centre and improvements made to Brading Road. Overall, there will be 587 open market properties and 317 affordable properties – built over 7 phases.
Please do away with either Councilor’s or Officers, it is so daft that they frequently go against each other and yet are part of same Clown Council. It could of easily been agreed if different Councilor’s sitting – not agreeing with development but this will just stop any other property developers showing interest across the Island and so less housing for all. Maybe they will now abandon anything for Ryde and look at mainland.
Why the two title announcements ? One regarding a subjective question about “Time for a new Planning Committee”, followed by an over dramatic report of a factual “Brakes slammed on Pennyfeathers Development” ? Irrespective of the article or people’s quite rightly opinion to comment on this actual event, please give us the benefit to comment on what has happened in this long running event rather than make a subjective comment on your opinion on the present outcome. Plenty of keyboard warriors out there to give us that, but equally to hear options on why such situations have occurred.
When will they learn? We don’t want new people! We don’t want our children to stay! And we absolutely don’t want commie cycle lanes taking space away from cars!
Sadly this is NOT cancelled at all.
Don’t read what you WANT to happen, read what it says.
It is merely a ploy by planning to make it look as though they really ‘care’ when in reality it is just a few minor points on the closure of smallbrooke lane and a community building being shifted on the lego land board.
Or some still awaiting larger thank you cards some suggest.
By delaying it, it makes it look like planning are really considering this properly, when they know it is going to happen whatever. All smoke and mirrors.
No more properties in Ryde are needed.
It will end up with more Numpties like those who live in the Council Houses along
Great Preston Road parking on Pavements blocking pedestrian walkways and causing an obstruction to other motorists.
We do not need more B’rainless families causing a nuiscance.
IF it finally goes ahead, which I hope it does not, It will be there forever, not a month or two but 100 years or more, so they do need to think how it will look say in five years time, what disruption it will all cause as it is.
A stupid idea to ruin beautiful GREENLAND, which these days would be better off with a food farm..
There is no such thing as “affordable housing” anymore, unless you are rich. I am glad that this was turned down simply because we need more hospitals, dentists, GP’s etc. before any more houses are built on the island.
”Affordable housing” is just a fancy name for free homes for smack rats and swillers. No one can afford a mortgage anymore anyway, and who wants a life long mortgage to buy a house surrounded by low life scum and their feral brats. Every town that has this type of housing in it has a problem with low life of some sort or another and the problem is spreading
Says the feral brat offspring of low life scum.
B.Sc
Bronze swimming certificate?
Please see the very real connection between never ending mass immigration into this country, with the need to then build thousands more houses.
NO-ONE ever arrives with land to build upon, and few arrive with the funds to pay for their home.
Consequence is we loose greenfield sites, AND grow ever poorer, funding homes for others rather than our own people.
It is NOT coincidence since mass arrivals more homes are needed.
Whilst not necessarily filled with such, people ‘displaced’ by them move here then adding to the problem of home shortages.
THINK see it how it is, for no Politicians DARE say the truth now.
The Island does not need more properties especially in Ryde.
Look at the Builder Matey who lives in the old council houses along Great Preston Road
he & his riff raff siblings think they can park where they like.
It will just house more Numpties like those.
The ‘builder matey’ will happily discuss this issue with you.
You know where he lives, but just use other peoples names to avoid directly discussing your twisted envy of not having a driveway.
They are a lovely hard working family, perhaps you should think as to where YOUR income comes from and whose taxes fund your miserable life.
Go around to discuss, IF you are so sure you have a valid viewpoint.
But you won’t gutless trouble making gob slob.
So if a family are lovely & are hard working it gives that family the right
to park on pavements blocking pedestrian access & causing an obstruction to motorists
My family are a lovely family & are all hard working, many of them work shifts
but they do not park on pavements, they are well educated & know that pavements are NOT to be parked on
Obviously yourself & the Builder Matey who park on the pavement do not understand
what pavements are for
Maybe you should re-take your driving tests or go back to school to further your education
Vehicles are not designed to park on pavements
Pavements are for persons
I am fed up driving along Great Preston Rd & having to come to Stop due to
Parking on Pavements
There are NO yellow lines outside no 90, so both he and his daughter have a RIGHT to park outside their paid for home.
They RESPECTFULLY park a couple of wheels on the pavement to EASE traffic flow and people can still pass by with a pram or wheelchair.
So they DO think and do all they can to avoid slowing traffic by positioning their vehicles slightly on the kerb side.
Get over your multi fake name ‘issue’ with a paid for home owner with a drive and earning good money owning nice cars, just because your family are state funded.
In life sometimes you cannot talk to clueless idiots.
Even when people are in the wrong due to lack of education and their brain power
they think they are in the right.
Very sad I do feel for these people, they Obviously need help.
Aggression is not nice, be kind.
Life is too short, wouldn’t the world be a lovely place if people
done no wrong and respected other people.
Amen
For months now there have been problems with a family parking on the pavement
along Great Preston Road Ryde, blocking pedestrian walkway and causing an obstruction
to other passing vehicles.
The Law or Council do not seem bothered about people blocking pavements on the
Island, why I don’t know we pay our taxes.
Maybe if we all parked our vehicles on pavements around the Island something
would finally get done about it.
So are you actually saying Builders are aggressive!
Hear hear!
We don’t need or want this development…..
We don’t have the infrastructure to support 904 new homes….
And we certainly don’t need to lose Greenfield site’s…
We need wildlife and space..
And if the council are worried about carbon neutral?????
Stop turning the island into a concrete jungle!!!!!!
Beggar the pension pot from new builds,,,,,,
Well done both you and the previous comment. We really cannot survive the extra housing and to suggest destroying another green area is nothing short of idiotic. Remember anything green absorbs what is produced by the living being, without this balance where will our much needed oxygen be coming from? Not to mention the sink for liquid such as rain!
Agree with you entirely.
Sadly the governments housing quota’s don’t take into account infrastructure, local housing needs or healthcare.
And they are only interested in carbon neutral when it suits them!
I’ve watched both of the last planning committee meetings, and what struck me was the whole application has been put together by monkeys.
The whole sordid affair needs scraping.
Well done to the 6 Councillors for voting against.
Well said.
IE’s headline doesn’t match the story. Sounds like they did their job!
We need a planning committee that acts for the people of the Isle of Wight. This scheme should never have got past the initial application. Its not needed and its not wanted. This development is fundamentally wrong and should be abandoned now! This area doesn’t have enough GPs, getting an NHS dentist is nearly impossible and St Marys is full. The nearby roads cannot cope now, and with brown field sites unused nearby this development is nothing short of environmental vandalism!
Pennyfeathers should never be allowed to happen.
Over the past 50 years the Island as been spoilt with properties
popping up everywhere.
If anything Ryde could do with a Country Park, not more Homes.
Everything you have said is true.
The Roads cannot cope now, too many Households own too many vehicles
and they clog up roads by parking on pavements.
Take Great Preston Road for example, vehicles are parked all over the place.
Too many Company vans clog up Roads and Streets.
Compounds for large vehicles are required for large vehicles, large vans
should not be allowed to park overnight on Roads and Streets.
Personally I would charge parking permits, that would encourage many Households who
own excess numbers of vehicles to de-clutter making more room for other Households to
park their vehicles and stopping people blocking public highways by parking on Pavements.
Yes, definitely time (well overdue) for a new planning committee.
Suggest putting well experienced planning councillor Richard Hollis back as chair as a start.
we do not need a new planning committee – they made the right decision
Is this, hopefully, the beginning of some common sense. Stop the whole thing at least until the number of Islands dentists and GP surgeries are brought up to government requirements.
Ryde does not need another Rat Run, Ryde already as Great Preston Road as a Rat Run.
It will end up with more idiots blocking Roads and Pavements like the idiots do who live in
Great Preston Road.
Infrastructureon the Island cannot cope now.
Keep Ryde free from Pennyfeathers, make use of the old holiday park in Puckpool,
that is a right eyesore.
St Mary’s Hospital cannot cope now, what will happen if many more homes are built.
What’s happening here? How can I get those brown envelopes if they turn down the permissions? Come on Isle of Wight council, get with the programme!
I watched the planning committee meeting and interestingly, one Councillor had spoken with the owners of Westridge Garage. Apparently they have no idea who the developers are, NOR are they prepared to sell. So that rather scuppers the developers plans on moving the garage!
We know how this works. Get planning permission for affordable housing by a shadow developer, which then “sells” the site and the application is changed. This continues for a few iterations until they get the right cronies in place at the council to get permission for constructing expensive properties to make the real money.
Also, planning permission usually lasts for 3 years, so why aren’t they making a new application?
May I humbly submit Newport as a brownfield paradise. Plenty of opportunities for sympathetic redevelopment or repurposing for housing and rental accommodation. Planning Commitee should be encouraging this and telling the Planning Department to pull their fingers out and promote it to the developers. Retailing would sure to return if greater numbers of people lived in and around the centre. Unfortunately as it stands the developers only show a limited amount of interest; too fiddly; too much thinking involved; not enough money in it. You only have to look at the artists impressions of these urban sprawls to see how they lack any human empathy. They have all the soul of a wooden film-set ready for a nuclear bomb test.
I still think it is an awful development and again over 7 phases… how many years would that take.. disrupting roads, mud on roads.. more lorries ruining what roads we have..
Unknown why that beautiful Greenland cannot be used to grow food.. a farm, Or even a small dairy farm, not dissimilar to the one up the road..
Imagine all the wildlife that will be displaced… where will they go..
I think this idea should be stopped completely. over 900 houses is larger than some towns on the Island.. Ryde is large enough already.
In my view, IF the Island needs 2000 more homes built, why not spread them about around the smaller towns instead of dumping 1000 homes in Ryde ?? There are many small towns that could do with some new input..
ONLY reason more house are required by our Gov and thus forcing councils to build ever more, is because too many imm’s are filling our country each day and filling maternity wards to ensure the problem grows ever worse as time goes by.
Despite the Island not having as many arrive here directly the buildings are filled by mainland overspill forced to move away from their towns and villages where ‘they’ no longer feel at home, so enmasse immigration is responsible for the destruction of OUR green field sites.
I don’t see that Ryde needs any sort of major development like this ,
I don’t find it inspirational in any shape or form, Ryde simply does not have the infrastructure to sustain this development
I’m pleased it has been rejected, and I’m sure that the family who owns westridge garage has some idea who the developer is, as I’m sure they would have been approached at some point ?,
But if as reported in the comments “ they won’t sell” then I say Bravo, as this will scupper the development any way.
I suppose watch this space as they say !