Could it be second time lucky for a housing scheme in Gunville which was thrown out last year?
The Isle of Wight council’s planning committee will decide the future of 149 homes next week (25th October) in an infill development on the edge of Gunville.
Thrown out by the council
The two applications, submitted by DN Associates, were first considered in August last year, but thrown out due to inadequate access and significant adverse effects on the capacity of the local highway.
One set of plans is for 36 homes and the other, outline plans for 113, built on land off of Arthur Moody Drive and Forest Hills.
Revised plans
Revised plans were submitted in April which sought to address concerns and included a third access point through the neighbouring Ash Lane development and use updated transport data.
The new access on Ash Lane is presumed to divert 12 per cent of the predicted traffic, council officers say.
Objections from many quarters
Objections were still received by 82 people over the two applications.
Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely and Isle of Wight councillor Joe Lever were among those who objected, with Cllr Lever saying the revisions have not overcome the previous reasons for refusal.
Conditional permission recommended
IW council officers have recommended on balance, conditional permission be granted to the application, although councillors will make the final decision and have, when considering this development, previously gone against the officers’ recommendation.
Council officers say the proposed development would provide much-needed housing within an existing residential development and is not an overdevelopment of the site.
Highways issues
Overall while the scheme would result in increased traffic onto the local highway, subject to the appropriate mitigation, officers have said it is not considered it would result in an unacceptable impact on highway safety.
A loss of existing on-street parking, through the introduction of double yellow lines, can also be suitably mitigated, they say, as the developer can be told to add public spaces that make up for the loss.
A decline in traffic movements since 2016
The potential impact on the Waverley roundabout at the top of Carisbrooke High Street had been raised as an issue, but the new traffic data, which has shown a decline in traffic movements since 2016 data, shows the junction operating within its capacity.
It would not give rise to a sustainable, standalone reason for refusal the council says but it cannot be guaranteed traffic volumes would not return to normal.
Island Roads has also recommended pedestrian accessibility improvements are made between the site, Broadwood Lane and Gunville Road.
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
