The Isle of Wight Council has published a report detailing proposed changes to the Island Planning Strategy ahead of a crucial committee meeting.
The Policy, Finance and Resources Committee will consider the report on Thursday 6th November.
The committee will then make recommendations to Full Council, which meets on 19th November 2025.
Public consultation on the horizon
The council will launch a six-week public consultation later this year if members agree to the proposals.
The authority will send all feedback from the consultation to the Planning Inspectors. The inspectors will then re-open their examination of the strategy.
What the Strategy covers
The Island Planning Strategy represents the council’s emerging local plan, a document that determines how developers can use and develop land on the Island over the coming years.
The strategy covers housing, employment, infrastructure and environmental protection.
Once adopted, the strategy will guide all planning decisions across the Island.
Responding to inspector concerns
The newly published report outlines a package of changes that address concerns the Planning Inspectors raised earlier this year.
The inspectors wrote to the council in April after holding hearing sessions in spring 2025, identifying five key areas requiring further work.
Full Council agreed in May to continue with the independent examination and instructed officers to address the issues whilst preparing for public consultation.
Nine new housing sites allocated
The report proposes nine additional sites and two policy amendments to address a shortfall of 315 homes over the next five years.
These nine new site allocations (in Ryde, Sandown, Rookley and Newport) will deliver a total of 270 new homes (see paper at bottom of article).
The council has also updated the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal, which supports the strategy.
Net zero requirement dropped
The council proposes removing Policy C11, which required all new development to achieve net zero carbon emissions, to align with national guidance.
Officers have revised evidence on affordable housing viability, which shows that delivering 35 per cent affordable housing is not viable across the Island.
The council proposes a reduction in some areas whilst retaining the ‘Island affordable’ definition to ensure deeper discounts than national policy requires.
Ancient woodland buffer reduced
The proposals include reducing the buffer zone between ancient woodland and new development from 50 metres to 15 metres, bringing it in line with national advice.
Residents can read the full report on the council’s website, where dedicated web pages about the Island Planning Strategy provide further information.
