Villagers in Bembridge are celebrating this week as it is revealed that a much-detested holiday lodge scheme on Love Lane has been rejected at the highest level.
The Planning Inspectorate has refused to allow Love Lane IOW to build 2 holiday lodges on the leafy site, which has been the subject of much protest.
The case had been appealed to the government’s planning watchdog after the Isle of Wight Council failed to determine the application in the statutory timeframe.
Despite the appeal, the Island’s planning authority still said it would have refused the application on the grounds it would harm the area’s rural character; fail to provide high-quality tourism accommodation and compromise protected trees.
Issuing a decision earlier this week the Planning Inspectorate rejected the appeal for many of the same reasons the Isle of Wight Council would have.
In the decision report, an inspector said placing the development on this land would significantly diminish the rural woodland character. Despite features in the design to limit the harm, like a timber finish and living moss roof, it was said it would not overcome the visual harm caused by the development.
The inspector also said the surrounding woodland would make the lodges ‘dark and gloomy’, despite the large windows, and holidaymakers would not have significant privacy due to how close the lodges were to the lane.
Ultimately they ruled the lodges would not provide a satisfactory standard of accommodation for use as holiday lets.
In the long-term, the inspector also feared the development would put pressure on surrounding trees, leading to them being removed.
Councillor Joe Robertson has said:
“I am delighted that the application for holiday lodges in woodland along Love Lane has been rejected by the Planning Inspectorate.
“The accusations of local mass hysteria by the applicant were unfair and wrong. The Inspectorate agreed with the Council and over 300 residents who objected: the development would harm the rural character, threaten trees and not provide a satisfactory standard of accommodation.
“I would like to sincerely thank residents and local campaigners for all their support in resisting this poorly conceived application”.
Love Lane IOW can appeal the Inspectorate’s decision, should they wish, to the High Court on a point of law. But that would be a costly move.
It’s unclear what will now become of the cleared woodland site, which has already had some utilities put in place.
Good riddance. Bye bye Holiday let’s airbnb. Let’s keep fighting back.
It’s unclear what will now become of the cleared woodland site, which has already had some utilities put in place.
An order by the council must be made that the site be cleared and returned to nature – as it was before this disgusting attempt at removing valuable CO2 removing trees was made.
As the utilities were put in before planning permission was granted they should be removed and the area should be replanted at the developers expense to replace any trees they removed.
As much as I applaud this outcome it makes you wonder about all the other inconsistent decisions regarding inappropriate housing in unsustainable areas, woodland clearances and land bribes etc that the Planners have rubber stamped.
Oh hang on, there’s going to be a £14K peer review to condone all those types of impropriety. So as you were.
As much as I agree with this outcome it makes you wonder about all the other inconsistent decisions regarding inappropriate housing in unsustainable areas, woodland clearances and land bribes etc that the Planners have rubber stamped.
Oh hang on, there’s going to be a £14K peer review to condone all those types of impropriety. So as you were.
Note to the NIMBY lot.
Next time you’re attacking the homeless and drunks on our streets, remember you’re the ones attacking businesses on the island and removing job creation opportunities. As long as your house price keeps going up, what do you care. All you have is hate.
When they replant trees in this space, they should also replant trees in all those empty lawns. Can’t claim to support the environment when wasting space like that.