Housing affordable for Islanders, a requirement for some holiday lets to get planning permission, and a reduction in the amount of new houses built.
These are among changes made to the Isle of Wight Council’s new ‘planning bible’.
One of the final versions
Following months of consultation and revisions, the authority has proposed what it hopes will be one of the final draft versions of the Island Planning Strategy (IPS).
The strategy will, once approved, be the council’s planning guide, setting policies it will have to follow for the next 15 years.
Fuller: The council’s weapon against mass development
Speaking in September when the draft was out for consultation, Cllr Paul Fuller, cabinet member for planning, said the strategy would be the council’s weapon against mass development.
Recent changes have been shaped by the consultation responses, where more than 2,800 comments were received.
What are the changes?
- A minor reduction in the annual proposed housing number from 486 dwellings a year down to 479
- Setting a clear affordable housing definition, suitable for Islanders at a bigger discount – around 30 to 50 per cent less than market value
- Housing proposed at the former Camp Hill prison in Parkhurst has shrunk from 1,200 units to 750
- A new policy to ensure infrastructure across the Island is supported — with developments making an ‘appropriate contribution’ either through new provisions or upgrades
- Developments will have to meet net-zero targets as part of ambitions for sustainable construction
- A new policy where the biosphere, and its ‘fundamental importance’, must be considered in all applications
A policy that will require people wishing to change their homes in core tourist areas into holiday lets for over 140 days a year to get planning permission.
A review of all potential housing sites
The reduction in housing figures has also lowered the number of houses expected in some areas of the Island.
How many houses are proposed in your area in the next 15 years?
- Cowes, Gurnard and Northwood – 962
- East Cowes – 407
- Newport – 2,006
- Ryde – 1,321
- Sandown, Shanklin and Lake – 243
- Bembridge – 159
- Ventnor – 10
- Freshwater and Totland – 224
- Wootton – 69
- Arreton – 42
- Brighstone – 55
- Godshill – 100
- Nettlestone – 17
- Rookley – 28
- Wellow – 16
- Yarmouth – 26
Sanctions on missed targets
The council has in the last few years been determining planning applications with sanctions imposed on the authority, due to a lack of house building.
It is hoped the new strategy will combat those sanctions and argue the case for lower government-set housing targets.
The DIPS will be discussed at three council meetings in the next two weeks where it will be determined whether to progress it to the next stage of consultation before it is sent to the Secretary of State for review.
All local authorities in England need an up-to-date planning strategy by the end of 2023.
You can view the latest draft here.
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
Image: Wesley Tingey under CC BY 2.0
