A proposed mixed-use development with at least 60 homes, a ‘generous’ share of ‘affordable’ housing and a retail outlet is facing resistance from an Isle of Wight local authority.
At its Tuesday meeting (2nd December 2025), Freshwater Parish Council (FPC) agreed to object to Stephen Hucklesby’s revised outline plans for Heathfield Farm Campsite next to Freshwater’s Colwell Road.
Significant opposition
The plans previously came up against significant opposition, including from Empowering Islanders county councillor Chris Jarman, the Campaign to Protect Rural England Isle of Wight and FPC.
Concerns included those relating to flooding, inadequate drainage, the development’s effect on the area’s character, the timeliness of bat survey reports, increased traffic and resulting congestion, and pedestrian safety.
Recent objections
Those raised in FPC’s latest objection include the loss of Heathfield Farm Campsite which it describes as an active, award-winning holiday park and visitor destination, and a long-established wildflower meadow, pollution and nitrate runoff into the Solent and a ‘severe cumulative highways impact’.
Among pages of criticisms presented by councillor Becca Cameron at the meeting, the council also voiced alarm over landscape and character harm, insufficient local services capacity and a significantly increased landslip and erosion risk.
Updated Design and Access statement
An updated Design and Access statement from Rainey Petrie Architecture said ‘some 38 per cent’ of the proposed homes would be ‘affordable’.
The development will be on land ‘identified and proven’ as a ‘viable location’ for sustainable housing, with ‘readily available’ links to public transport infrastructure. Rainey Petrie Architecture said,
“When considering the site constraints and desire to retain much of the boundary tree lines, our design proposals have achieved a plot delivery of 63 units, closely matching the council’s speculation and securing a delivery of housing stock in line with their projected numbers.
“Plot numbers have been subsequently reduced to allow for a more open green space to ensure public amenity value of the site and to ensure sufficient on-site translocation of reptile species.”
View the plans
You can view the plans on the council’s planning register (24/00993/OUT).
The public consultation runs until 12th on December 2025.
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
