The Isle of Wight CPRE, The Countryside Charity, has today joined the growing number of residents and community groups in announcing its opposition to a greenfield planning application on undeveloped countryside near Bembridge.
An application by Thornwood Estates (21/01884/FUL) for 57 new homes has been made on an area of undeveloped countryside that is currently outside the Bembridge settlement boundary.
A separate application on adjacent land is anticipated shortly which could see the total new homes for Bembridge rise to 180.
“Build a Better Bembridge”
CPRE IOW fully supports the “Build a Better Bembridge” community group in their opposition to this Greenfield development.
The group rightly identifies serious flaws with the proposed development, in particular failure to take account traffic, flooding, sewage and other infrastructure constraints.
The scheme also fails to account for Bembridge’s Neighbourhood Development Plan or demonstrate specific neighbourhood need. CPRE IOW will be laying out its formal objection to the proposed scheme as part of the Council’s consultation on the scheme due to close on 12th January.
Wellby: Unwanted, unnecessary and destructive assault on undeveloped countryside
Commenting on the proposals, Ian Wellby, Trustee of the Isle of Wight CPRE said,
“We fully support the residents of Bembridge in mobilising to oppose this unwanted, unnecessary and destructive assault on the remaining undeveloped countryside surrounding Bembridge.
“The ‘Build a Better Bembridge’ community group has identified several compelling reasons why these fields are totally inappropriate for development on this scale.
“In particular we note the failure to take account traffic, flooding, sewage and other infrastructure constraints, or evidence local need via reference to Bembridge’s neighbourhood plan.”
Wellby: Opportunistic developer
He went on to add,
“This scheme represents yet another attempt by an opportunistic developer to profit from inappropriate and unwanted development by appeal to a total ill-suited and unrealistic central government housing targets.
“It’s vital that the Island de-couples from national housing targets and pursues a bespoke housing policy based on local need, not external demand.”
Wellby: Requirement for a realistic, needs-based housing target
Mr Wellby finished by saying,
“Only with a realistic, needs-based housing target can the Council the take back control of planning and halt the appalling loss of rural landscapes that is resulting from the relaxation of planning protection in response to missed unrealistic housing targets.
“Whilst we welcome the Isle of Wight Council’s attempt to establish a lower housing target in the medium term, it must act now to reject this ill-suited, inappropriate and unwanted development.”
News shared by Ian on behalf of Isle of Wight CPRE. Ed
