To keep plans alive for the redevelopment of the former Folly Works in Whippingham, a new road will be marked out.
A recent application by Feria Investments to lay pegs and ropes, marking out the new access road from Beatrice Avenue and replacing the current Folly Lane junction, has been granted this week by the Isle of Wight Council.
Yet-to-start major development
The new road is part of the yet-to-start major development on the banks of the River Medina which would see a hotel, 14 business units, a new jetty, 82 houses and 17 flats built.
An application was submitted originally in 2014, approved in June 2015 by the council’s planning committee, but permission was only granted on 17th November 2016.
With a five-year time limit for work to start, the application was submitted to ensure permission did not lapse.
Lawful commencement of permission
Pre-commencement conditions, including ones for tree protection measures, asking for more details and biodiversity mitigation, are currently being determined by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning authority, and need to be concluded before any major works can start.
The council is content the marking of the road will signal a lawful commencement of the wider planning permission so plans are not stopped.
Working to resolve pre-commencement conditions issues
A letter attached to the application, from agents Pegasus Group, said they are working to resolve issues with pre-commencement conditions as quickly as possible but the proposed works to mark out the new road were not intrusive.
The agents said the permission will allow the development programme to come forward in due course, ensuring the brownfield site is redeveloped.
It was their understanding the redevelopment has the significant backing of local councillors and the community, “who want to see the site made good from its former industrial past”.
Phasing of the planned development
Documents submitted along with the attempts to discharge conditions, reveal the phasing of the planned development.
First, the road would be marked out with the work on the Folly Lane junction next, followed by ecology enabling works, such as relocating the badger sett.
Under the third, and final, phase, which is split up into four stages, 21 lodges would be built to order, along with three to four show homes.
The apartments would be built under the third stage and Folly Reach Hotel constructed last.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
Image: © Morrison Design Chartered Architects
