The applicant for the Blanchards development on the outskirts of Brighstone has submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
This follows the decision by the Isle of Wight Planning Committee to refuse the application earlier this year.
Against officer recommendation the committee rejected the application on the grounds of:
Failing to conserve or enhance setting of surrounding Listed Buildings and failing to complement the special character, including the openness of the site within the settlement of Brighstone, within a designated AONB.
Seely: “Wrong size and in the wrong place”
Commenting on the appeal, Cllr Bob Seely, local Councillor for Brighstone, said,
“The original decision to reject the Blanchards estate was a sensible and balanced one which took into account the needs and aspirations of the Brighstone Community.
“This development is the wrong size and in the wrong place, and against the wishes of the local community, as well as thousands of other people across the Island who fed-up with aggressive developers pushing the system.
“The developers seem determined to ignore local feeling, ignore the almost-finished village plan, and ignore national planning guidelines.”
No development in AONB
Cllr Seely went on to say,
“The rules are clear; no major development should be allowed in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Despite that, the developers seem determined to build a major development in the picturesque village of Brighstone.
“As the local community and the Planning Committee agree, no need has been identified for this development apart from meeting arbitrary targets.”
He finished by saying,
“I hope that the National Planning Inspectorate reject out of hand this bad development which is against local feeling and against national planning policy.
“I will be putting in a strong objection. I hope that the Planning Department will ensure that the Council also support my community as much as it can.”
Image: © Google Streetview
