Plans to build 70 houses in Shalfleet have come under fire from the Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely.
The proposed development, on land behind the recently completed Burt Close, had a mixed reactions at last month’s Shalfleet Parish Council meeting.
Seely: Bad for the Island
Bob Seely said,
“I am firmly opposed to the proposal to construct 70 houses on greenfield land behind Burt Close in Shalfleet. This is yet more, low density, greenfield development which is bad for the Island. I hope the IW Council will see the poor development for what it is.
“We need to be building on brownfield land, not allowing landowners to make a quick buck by selling land for what is effectively ribbon development on a main road.”
Seely: Not built for Islanders
The MP went on to say,
“These homes are not being planned for Islanders, with the majority of houses in this development earmarked as market houses that many young families in the area simply won’t be able to afford.
“The landowner claims to want to build homes for Shalfleet families, but the facts are that local families will be priced out of the market. Let’s be realistic here – houses valued at between £200k – £300k are not affordable houses for young Island families looking for first homes.“This development will only pile more pressure on existing services, particularly health services, to meet the additional demand.”
Seely: We need genuinely affordable homes built for Islanders
Seely finished by saying,
“This type of low-density urban sprawl is not what the Island needs and I continue to press the Government for the Island to be treated as a special case when it comes to housing so that we can stop the obliteration of our countryside and have local control to plan for our local communities.
“I look forward to the speedy completion of the Island Plan to ensure that we can block these developments, in favour of development in towns, for local families, preferably supported by Island housing associations.
“We need genuinely affordable homes built for Islanders and we need to stop these types of housing proposals from landowners who I believe are actively working against the interests of their local communities.
“I support the many concerns held by residents who have written to me about these plans and I will join them, with local Cllr Peter Spink, to fight against these proposals.”
