The Isle of Wight council is still in the running to take on the old Camp Hill prison, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has revealed.
In response to a question posed by Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, today (Tuesday) in the House of Commons, justice minister Damian Hinds confirmed options were being looked at for decommissioned HM prisons across the country.
Transferring Camp Hill to IWC one of the options
Mr Hinds went on to say, of the options being looked at for Camp Hill, transferring the site to the Isle of Wight council was one of them and MOJ officials would continue conversations with council staff.
The site in Parkhurst Forest has been identified in the council’s Island Planning Strategy as a ‘key priority’.
Could provide up to 750 homes
This means the authority’s focus is on the site with aims of developing it in the 15 years the plan runs, from when it is approved.
The council’s plans for the site include up to 750 homes, approximately two hectares of employment land to create jobs, community buildings and recreation spaces.
While the site is still in MoJ control, however, the council has been reluctant to commit to its future.
Focus on sites owned by IWC
Under the ruling Alliance Administration, focus has shifted to sites the authority owns and can dispose of or develop to meet the housing need of the Island.
Sites at the former Island Learning Centre in Lake; Thompson House in Gatcombe and the former Weston Academy in Totland have overtaken Camp Hill in its priority list, possibily providing around 70 houses.
The Camp Hill site is made up of almost 55 hectares and is a mixture of brownfield and greenfield land.
Other public bodies, including fire and the police, are said to have enquired about Camp Hill.
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: © Google Maps/Streetview
