Those behind a major housing development in Ryde say it is ‘gloves off’, as they look to take the case to an appeal following the latest setback.
The 900-home Pennyfeathers scheme was delayed once again yesterday (Wednesday), as the Isle of Wight council’s planning committee refused the next stage of its application.
Approved in 2017
The site, on the outskirts of Ryde, was given outline permission for the principle of housing in 2017 but a further application, to add detail and finalise the scheme, was rejected after councillors had an issue with the proposed layout.
Now, Glen Hepburn, of Hepburns Planning Consultancy, who is working to see through the planning application on behalf of his clients, has spoken of his disappointment over the latest stumbling block.
Hepburn: Planning committee members ‘so out of kilter’ with officers
Mr Hepburn said he was disappointed members of the planning committee were ‘so out of kilter’ with officers that they went against the recommendation and refused it and no other options were suggested to the committee, such as deferral.
He claimed the committee was focused on refusing the application, rather than looking at solutions on how to take it forward.
‘Hand has been forced’ to appeal
Mr Hepburn said they will appeal the case to the Planning Inspectorate as their “hand has been forced”.
The outline consent has expired, so the developers cannot submit a new second-stage application for Pennyfeathers.
Planning process would have to restart
It means if a new scheme is produced for development it would have to start at the beginning of the planning process.
Questions have been asked about those behind the scheme as there had been some confusion.
Questions over ownership
Addressing the point, Mr Hepburn said there had been legal arguments about who owned the Pennyfeathers site.
One company went bust, he said, and his new clients, Smallbrook Developments Ltd, ‘rescued the situation’, by buying the assets.
New owners are funders of the project
He explained the new owners are effectively funders of the project who get planning permission while investors and other companies, like housing developers, buy into the scheme.
Once the case goes to appeal, it will be ‘gloves off’ and issues can be raised about the council’s process, which Mr Hepburn claimed caused delays and ‘left them waiting months’ for responses to emails.
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: arisa chattasa under CC BY 2.0
