Dozens of homes could be built on land next to an Isle of Wight nature reserve.
Outline consent is being sought for around 45 flats and houses on the outskirts of Ryde, near Alfred Street’s allotments and off Quarry Road.
The plans, submitted by Veronica Kelland, are for a 1.6-hectare site near Monktonmead Brook, the Island Line railway line and the Pig Leg Lane nature reserve.
A mix of regular housing
The proposals are for a mix of regular housing; ‘affordable’ home ownership schemes and housing association-run rentals.
The land used to be agricultural fields, an orchard, and patches of woodland, although planning documents say it is now overgrown with scrub and brambles.
Pig Leg Lane nature reserve
It neighbours the Pig Leg Lane nature reserve, an area of woodland and meadow on the southern edge of Ryde, which is managed by charity Gift to Nature.
Protected and priority species have also been noted on the proposed development site, thought it has been included in the Isle of Wight council’s draft planning strategy, with an allocation of at least 30 houses.
Drainage strategy
As part of the plans, tanks to collect and store excess surface water run-off will be included in the drainage strategy to fix flooding, and small corridors for wildlife to get through the site to the allotments could be included.
The application is for outline planning consent, which means only the principle of housing and access is up for approval.
Outline permission only
If the green light is given, a further application, with details including appearance, landscaping, layout and scale, would have to be submitted, including the final number of houses.
Documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, by Andrew White Planning Consultancy on behalf of Ms Kelland, say the plans, particularly how the built environment interacts with the natural one, have been carefully considered.
The planning agent says the development would be seen as a natural extension of Alfred Street and Quarry Road, with open spaces, nature areas and parking for users of the adjoining Pig Leg Lane nature reserve.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 23/01476/OUT, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 6th October 2023.
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
