A King’s Council Judge has ruled that Greenfield IOW Ltd, representing local residents of Ryde Appley and Elmfield, can have a day in court to hear their case what they say are significant errors made by Isle of Wight council in approving the West Acre Park development.
It is now four years since Captiva Homes first put in their planning application to build 472 houses on Westridge Farm during the Covid19 pandemic.
Application approved
In July 2021, the Isle of Wight Planning Committee controversially made a three to three decision with the Chair of the Committee, Councillor Geoff Brodie, using his casting vote to grant planning permission.
The community reacted in horror to how this meeting was conducted and how the 1000s of objections were ignored and rejected. The family who tenant farmed the land for generations were devastated.
Lawyers engaged
Residents of Ryde Appley and Elmfield fought back, developed a case, and engaged lawyers. There were failed attempts to bring the application back to Isle of Wight Planning Committee and the tenant farmers had no option but to leave. In April 2023, it came back to Committee and was approved again.
As soon as it was legally possible in October 2023 residents took the case to court seeking Judicial Review. It is a huge milestone that a Judge has now ruled the case can be heard.
Residents continue to crowdfund their case and to date have raised £45,050 with 814 pledges.
Lilley: It has always been a David and Goliath battle
Ryde Appley and Elmfield Councillor, Michael Lilley reacted,
“I am delighted for my residents as they have fought so hard and so long for justice and to get their huge case of alleged malpractice by IW Council Planning Department.
“The Court has obviously ruled that the case deserves a hearing in court and in fact residents have a case. It has always been a David and Goliath battle and this is a huge achievement. My role as the local ward Councillor has been to stand solidly by my residents in their long road to justice.
“The recent climate change realities of flooding and sewage releases into the Solent demonstrate environmentally that building 472 houses on farmland half a mile from the coastline would be a disaster.
“It was a tragedy that the tenant farmer had no option other than to leave following the granting of planning permission, but at least there is a chance to still save this important natural resource and greenfield site.”
Sharpe: Whole community worried about how Ryde would cope
Local resident, Helen Sharpe, says,
“I, and thousands of others, have objected to these plans for eight years. In my view, the council should never have passed this application and I believe they failed in their duty to protect this historic, greenfield site which included a dairy farm, thousands of trees and a rare breeding ground for curlews.
“This whole community is really worried about how Ryde would cope with such a huge building project, when the hospital, surgeries, schools, roads and sewerage system is overrun and cannot cope as it is.”
Find out more
You can read more detail and support the crowdfunding by visiting the Save Westridge Farm Campaign.
A copy of the Court Ruling is embedded below for your convenience.
News shared by Michael on behalf of Greenfield IOW Ltd. Ed
