Landscape lane road sign

Plans for housing development at Landscape Lane back on the table

A previously rejected housing scheme on the outskirts of Newport is coming back before planners — this time with one fewer house.

Outline plans for 13 houses on Landscape Lane, between Long Lane and Staplers, seek approval from the Isle of Wight Council, a year after previous plans to build on the agricultural site were refused.

Revised plans
Submitted by Mrs C Ferns, of the Cotton Trust, the revised plans would have a mix of properties, ranging from two to four-bed, detached and semi-detached, single and two storey.

The previous scheme, for 14 houses, was thrown out by the Isle of Wight Council on eight grounds, with officers saying it would be a ‘cramped’ and ‘visually intrusive’ development, having a ‘serious adverse impact’ on the local character and appearance.

There were also concerns it would negatively impact the highway network, with busy main roads in and out of Newport, Staplers Road and Long Lane, affected.

Point of access to site reduced
In the recent plans, however, agent on behalf of the applicant, Phil Salmon Planning, said it has been changed to take full account of the previous reasons for refusals and concerns.

Apart from the reduction in houses, the point of access to the site has also been reduced to one and new footpaths have been added.

Planning documents say the revised application is a ‘significant positive and enhanced opportunity’ to provide a mix of much-needed housing, ‘in a sustainable location’ while enhancing highway safety at Landscape Lane.

Objections already lodged
Despite the changes, seven objections have been lodged by locals and Island Roads has recommended the development be refused.

The highways authority listed four reasons the development should be turned down including inadequate footway provision, insufficient information relating to the surface water drainage impact and inadequate passing bay width.

One objector said,

“I feel the extra traffic generated and narrow single track road will make this development a danger to residents and general users of the lane.”

View the plans
To view the application, 21/02423/OUT, you can visit the council’s planning register.

The public consultation period closes on 19th January.


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