Plans for a new 7,245 square metre commercial and leisure park next to the Isle of Wight Airport have been appealed following a refusal last summer.
Mr T Fowler filed an appeal over his proposal for 12 commercial buildings and an aviation museum with 246 parking spaces on land to the west of Scotchells Brook Lane and north of Newport Road near Sandown.
Rejected by planning committee
County Hall’s planning committee rejected his application on 31st July 2024.
Reasons given included it being an ‘unsustainable form of development which would be reliant on the private car’, its adverse impact on the ‘rural character of the area’ and a lack of information submitted on the ‘potential ecological value’ of a hedgerow proposed for removal.
“A good example of an economic development opportunity”
An Appeal Statement written by Mr Fowler’s agent, Planning and Development Hub (IW) Ltd, said,
“The site is in a sustainable location and is a good example of an economic development opportunity that lies at the heart of the Island Plan’s spatial strategy.
“The design and scale of the buildings are within context whilst the layout serves as an efficient use of space maximising regeneration potential.
“The highways objections are not sustainable. The highways appeal statement shows that the proposals would not generate unacceptable levels of traffic whilst utilising an already approved junction.
“The hedgerow assessment (updated) confirms that there would not be any unacceptable impact on protected species and are acceptable in all other regards.”
Could create 500 jobs
Planning and Development Hub added the proposal could create 500 jobs and that the council had authorised ‘new employment spaces’ in the countryside with ‘far greater impacts’.
The firm stated the scheme would ‘generate significant biodiversity enhancement’ and ‘should not be totally reliant’ on providing a ‘new bus stop facility’.
View the plans
You can view the original plans on the council’s planning register (19/01205/OUT).
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
