The proposed West Acre Park development in Ryde is back in the spotlight, with updated planning documents now submitted for consideration.
The application, which includes more than 470 much-needed homes as well as commercial space, a doctor’s surgery and a cafe, has already been approved twice by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee. It was only quashed earlier this year due to a legal technicality relating to the timing of the Section 106 agreement’s publication, as previously reported by Island Echo.
The Court of Appeal dismissed 3 of the 4 complaints made against the council, confirming that the overall decision-making process was sound.
A fresh round of consultation will now take place, but the fundamentals of the scheme remain unchanged. There is only 1 notable adjustment – the proposed removal of a previously planned woodland footpath. It has been confirmed that 35% of the housing will remain affordable.
Given its previous approvals and policy alignment, the West Acre Park proposal appears likely to return to the planning committee with renewed momentum and is likely to be approved, for the third time.
But not everyone is welcoming the scheme… Ryde Town Council (RTC) has raised an objection in respect of local traffic.
A spokesperson has said:
“RTC understands the pressing needs for housing and the merits of this application in terms of its affordable housing offer, new accessible cycling and walking links and the open public green space.
Article continues below this advertisement “However, given the concerns expressed by councillors and residents regarding the local road network Ryde Town Council objects on the following grounds.
“There is no co-ordinated highways plan to accommodate all the proposed developments which are coming forward in the immediate area.
“Alongside the already known and identified developments at Rosemary Lane, Nicholson Road and Pennyfeathers there will be additional pressures at the proposed new Aldi site to add to the issues presently caused by the McDonald’s entrance.
“The financial contribution from this site may not, on its own, be enough to achieve the substantial junction improvements which are required to manage the increase in traffic flow.
“Contributions from the other sites at Rosemary Lane, Nicholson Road and Pennyfeathers and the land that it released would enable the creation of a new purpose built road network.”
County Hall’s public consultation on proposal 20/01061/FUL ends on 28th July and a decision is expected in August.
Stop using the words “much needed homes” – they aren’t much needed. The last thing the island needs is benefit hutches being built for more of the welfare dependent social underclass.
and there is no way anyone with cash will be buying, if they know that “affordable” meaning benefit claimants will be living there. How many new arrivals from france are likely to be housed here, draining resources further
Absolutely a much needed investment in Dentist,GP Surgery’s and our beleaguered hospital and it’s staff,is Much NEEDED!!and if 35%of them remain affordable after build I will be a Dutchman they will be the smallest pokiest places on the plot,there are a growing number of houses ge brow field spac s on the island use them!oh no the monies retirees you are really aiming it at wouldn’t want that type of area and to be fair we do t need any more imported retirees the strain on our Health service for Island born and breds us making it creak and groan!.Unless you were born here or worked here for a consecutive amount of years do what the Jersey and Isle of Man now do!.Then our youngsters might stand a chance in housing market.
Well said, if these houses are truly much needed, which is highly questionable, they should be built on brown field sites like all the abandoned shops and hotels across the Island. They should absolutely not be built on green field sites like West Acre!
Personally I don’t see that many families on the island
needing homes.
I can only imagine that the Council are doing a deal
with mainland councils to house families.
How much will these Island homes be needed if there is no means of travelling here? Keeping the existing ferry systems will soon become unviable/unaffordable and then what?
Much needed but not at a cost that island 1st time buyers can afford