Developers are having a third try at getting approval for housing in Whitwell.
Consultation was held with Niton and Whitwell Parish Council and residents in 2018 for a scheme that included 26 houses, a shop and playground.
Proposals for 20 houses on the greenfield site behind the High Street were then submitted in December 2019 to the council, scrapping the additional aspects.
The plans were withdrawn four months later for further consideration.
24 new homes – none ‘affordable’
Now, an application has been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council for 24 two, three and four-bed houses.
None of the homes are said to be affordable, despite the council’s wishes that a third of properties in a development over ten houses be affordable.
Agreement to pay towards affordable housing
In documents submitted as part of the application, the developer, Perry Properties IW, has said it will enter into a legal agreement with the council to either provide or pay contributions towards affordable housing, although there is no mention of it in any other document so far submitted.
Agents for the development, MJH Architectural Services, said the scheme would be fairly low-density, suitable for the village location, which will blend in with the surrounding properties.
Vehicle access would be from the High Street, with a bridge to be built over the stream between two properties.
School House Meadow
The field in question, known as School House Meadow, is located in a potential flood zone but houses are proposed to be built at least 20 metres away from the watercourse, in an area that has a low probability of flooding.
It is proposed additional parking is included in the scheme to compensate for residents along the High Street, who already have an issue parking.
View the plans
To view the plans, 21/01827/FUL, you can visit the council’s planning register. Comments on the application will be submitted until November 26.
Four objections have already been lodged against the major development, with one saying it would spoil the village and another accusing the developers of cramming in more houses.
Niton and Whitwell Parish Council will be discussing the application at a meeting on 15th November.
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: Daniel McCullough under CC BY 2.0
