Plans to build houses near a rural Isle of Wight primary school have been refused for fears the development would eat into the countryside.
Local farmers, A. E. Browns, was seeking permission to build three properties on one of its greenfields in Arreton — next door to Arreton Primary School.
Three new homes
The plans were for two three-bed houses and one two-bed bungalow, which planning agents on behalf of the applicant, BCM said were suitable for the modest site and designed to fit in with the area, at the bottom of Arreton Downs.
The Isle of Wight council disagreed and rejected the plans earlier this month on the grounds the homes would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area due to their size, location and position.
Reason for refusal
In its decision notice, the planning authority said the proposed dwellings would fail to protect and preserve the visual amenity of the plot or the wider rural nature and would appear ‘detached and out of character’ with the existing pattern of development.
Officers said the land is seen as countryside and contributes significantly to the area’s pleasant, rural character and appearance, not as being surrounded by development.
A ‘detrimental and incongruous’ development
The notice also said extending the built form onto undeveloped, agricultural land would result in a ‘detrimental and incongruous’ development, ‘eroding a pleasant and open green space’ which has a sense of ‘tranquillity and rural seclusion’.
The proposals were not popular with some members of the community, with 11 objections received including from Arreton Parish Council and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership.
Reasons for opposition
Among reasons the parish council objected including flooding risks, it would be out of scale and the housing wouldn’t meet the needs of the village as there are other developments already approved.
The AONB partnership said the development would appear to ‘encroach into undeveloped countryside’ and works to School Lane proposed, including resurfacing and widening it, would have ‘significant urbanising impacts’ to the narrow, rural lane.
Other concerns
Other concerns raised by residents include highway safety concerns, ecological impacts and a lack of archaeological survey, as the site lies close to the core medieval settlement of Arreton.
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
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