Millions of pounds could be ploughed into the Isle of Wight if planners give the go ahead to extending a housing development in Ryde.
Local house builder, Captiva Homes, argues that almost £100m would be invested into the Island and new jobs would be created, if they were to be given the green light to extend their West Acre Park scheme by 473 homes – of which 166 will be affordable.
In addition to Captiva’s own investment, national studies also highlight the significant positive impact on local economies driven by building new homes. On average 3.1 jobs are created for every home built and in total £5.9bn was spent in England and Wales by new residents in local shops and services. Ryde businesses could expect to see an additional £14.7m spent in the local economy per annum upon completion of the proposed development.
Captiva Homes Director James Pink said:
“We are proud to celebrate that our current phase off Hope Road has already directly created 70 jobs and has seen more than £10m invested in the Island economy almost all of which has been directly contracted with Island businesses.
“Unlike National Housebuilders whose purchasing, management positions and often tradesmen are mainland based, we strive to work with Island companies, employ Island people and use local trades.
“If our planning application is successful, we will be investing in excess of £96m on the Island and creating and sustaining many more jobs for years to come.”
There are currently eight site apprentices working on phase one of the development with a further three being recruited.
Dan Harper from DH Carpentry in East Cowes said:
“Since starting on site we have seen a steady increase in demand and the consistency of this kind of contract allows us to invest in our team and grow the business. We’ve recruited five new staff and taken on two apprentices as a result of the work at West Acre Park.
“It’s great to see a large-scale housing project being delivered by an Island business which is so committed to supporting local trade. Go ahead for the second phase would mean many more years of work for local trades.”
And the folks who made it there homes in the area. All that comes to them is miserable days and dust and truck fumes. How about compensate some to them.
I can do no better than suggest that people remember Mandy Rice-Davies’ immortal words. !!!
when are they going to realise we don’t want their big houses
The developer may be tickled Pink, but then their family will have private health treatment, private education and will live miles away from the traffic congestion and misery it creates for others, and last but certainly not least, amass another fortune in doing so.
So of course they would say that; wouldn’t YOU if you were them?
Okay but no mention of the local NHS, These developers and others have no idea how St Mary’s has to cope and more if this development goes ahead. All well and good the local businesses wanting more but tell that to someone needing long term care without the appropriate resources in place.
I would rather the island not have the £100m (which is total nonsense anyway) if it meant this vile development was eradicated.
Are you going to build a new Hospital ?
Employ more Doctors?
And Dentists?
The island can just about cope now without more housing!
And 166 affordable houses out of 473 ????
Who benefits more developer or the island ??????
Something Mr Pink did not say that to build these houses the farmer and his family would not only lose their buisness but also their home and livelihood
The Holliday family who farm this land deserve better than this.
I cannot imagine the stress that this proposed development has inflicted on their family . Surely green fields and a working farm is a better asset than even more housing.
The Island infrastructure is already at breaking point.
No one is fooled by the PR spin. Building a Surgery is one thing, but it is unlikely to ever be manned. We have an acute shortage of doctors now. This will only lead to an even more depleted service Islandwide.
I voted independent for the first time in the Council elections hoping for a more democratic outcome for the future of the Island,.
This development is a big mistake and should not be given permission.
The loss of greenfield land is not acceptable. Once lost it is lost forever.
The Hollidays deserve better. Farming is hard work and they do not deserve being steam rollered out of their home by the pursuit of profit.
The planners should focus on repurposing all the empty commercial properties now lying empty and allow conversion to homes.
These would be far more affordable homed which is what is needed .
It is evident from the comments here and in the County Press that this has few if any supporters. I hope the Council take note.
What a load of rubbish. Pure advertising for yet another poorly constructed estate.
As all those working at Westacre are subcontractors and the so called apprentices you have are government funded. I guarantee you, you won’t keep them on once they’ve qualified and you have to pay them fully skilled wages.
I live in this area and we don’t want or need this site. Ryde can’t cope with the additional surface water and drainage. Appley properties will get flooded. Ryde or the island doesn’t need this site and if the new councillors give it the go ahead, then the only thing green about them is their greed and pocket linings.
And of course all done for the island with no thought for making any money themselves how noble!
And where is the infrastructure to support all these extra homes, The Doctors, Dentists, Schools etc, we do not have hardly enough to support the current population, Oh and a Hospital that can cope with the extra patients?
Exactly. The only viable employment to support the lending to a valuation on these house is on the mainland. That begets the transport infrastructure to the mainland. They, the developer (not we) need a bridge for that! Are they going to pay for that? Otherwise theyll all be snapped up as investments and rented.
Notice how Bob Seely is silent…. he won’t object to this, not in his backyard. More concrete and cheaply built hutches.
Of course not. Idealic Brightstone is many miles away.
Well, be fair, actually he did put in an objection to this unwanted development..
He has opposed this , I think you will find.
Not made it very public though has he….
Job creation is great, just do it on brownfield please. It might be more challenging and smaller scale, but the clock is ticking for massive greenfield.
Well said. Also build for islanders. We need more housing, but housing we can afford. Time to convert all the closed shops into flats for locals.
Whatever, does he actually believe what he ax said.
More spin by the builders-this is akin to saying that 30% of accidents are caused by drunken drivers, therefore 70% are caused by sober drivers; so if all drivers got drunk, there would be less accidents !!
Perhaps the land would be better used for sustainable green Island businesses rather than houses for mainlanders. I’m sure green fields managed by the current farmers is the best option for the Island though.
The developer is talking out of its behind.
This is just a sales pitch – they are only talking about the hoardes of people who would be moving to the island, who would then be buying food at tesco/mcdonalds etc.
They are trying to make you ignore the loss of greenfields, the increase in CO2, the increase in rubbish, the increase congestion on the roads, the increased pressure at St Marys/dentists/doctors and schools.
They are trying to make you forget that you, as an islander will not actually get one penny of this alleged money.
Look at the jobs BS they talk about – there aren’t enough jobs on the island as it is for those here already.
If our planning application is successful, we will be investing in excess of £96m on the Island and creating and sustaining many more jobs for years to come.”
……..
lies – that money will be spent building the houses and will all go into the developers pockets at the expense of the environment and the island. And after the houses are built, the jobs that were created, which only existed to build the houses, will disappear, along with the developers and the money – do not fall for this BS.
Given the current housing shortage on the island, once these homes are built they will get snapped up immediately by mainland buyers. Islanders won’t get a look in. This just not right. The only people who benefit are the buyer’s from London or wherever they are and the builder. But what about the creaking island infrastructure? Traffic jams on the roads, many more accidents due to the increased numbers of vehicles, our hospital, our GP surgeries, our schools, our dentists………. This has got to stop, the island will be ruined. Not that Boris cares. BUILD, BUILD, BUILD is his motto.
Those developers who are tickled Pink, are Masons, so not a chance this would be refused.
Say”s it all then