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Planning inspector claims Arreton has no ‘special character or appearance worthy of protection’

Residents’ fears that an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate would go against the decision of the Isle of Wight council have become a reality.

The CP report that two schemes on the edge of the Arreton village, rejected by the Isle of Wight council – the first for 89 dwellings and the second, for 40 dwellings – have been granted conditional permission by the planning inspectorate.

Opposition from villagers
There was huge opposition in the village to both the developments and residents, with the support of the IWC planning department, recently conducted their own Housing Needs Survey for the whole of Arreton Parish.

Earlier in the year Arreton resident, Richard Hayden, told OnTheWight,

“It was totally out of character and context for the small village that has only 150 houses at present. Residents have fought for 16 months against not one, but two planning applications by the same landowner on the same site.

No ‘special character’
The decision was issued on Friday afternoon. The appeal report stated,

“Apart from the Conservation Area at its north-eastern end, there is nothing that marks out Arreton as having a special character or appearance worthy of protection.”

Source

Image: © Richard Hayden