Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has issued a statement about the draft Island Planning Strategy (DIPS), which among other things will set out how many new homes will be built on the Island in the next 15 years.
Councillors at Wednesday’s full council meeting will decide whether to approve, reject or defer a decision on the DIPS.
‘Exceptional circumstance’ rejected
Back in 2019 Bob Seely said he believed that the the council should seek an ‘exceptional circumstance’ from the Government to lower the target of 640 homes a year to 200-250.
This was seemingly rejected by the council, who are still pursuing the target of 479 new homes a year.
Seely: “A difficult decision”
Seely said,
“Since my election, I have fought against unsustainable greenfield development and for housing need to be prioritised for Islanders. It is my strong opinion that the Council should progress with a new plan. Our existing plan is out of date and therefore provides much less protection than a current plan would.
“I respect very much that councillors have a difficult decision to make.”
Option 1
The MP went on to say,
“On one hand, the new plan before councillors now is not perfect – not least because the number of new homes proposed to be built remains too high – but by adopting it we at least have more protection against speculative development which damages our environment.
“I sympathise with what the Council is trying to achieve. That’s option 1.”
He added,
“At the same time, I respect the opinions of those who think the numbers are too high. I agree.
“If councillors believe they can get a better plan in place quickly, then they need to do so in a timely way. That’s option 2.”
Seely: Option 2 is higher risk
Seely explained his concerns about the second option.
“”However, my concern with option 2 is two-fold.
“First, the potential length of any delay will damage our ability to block unsustainable development.
“Second, I am concerned that the Planning Inspectorate will throw out a plan with dramatically lower numbers. If that happens, we are back to square one, without the protection that a plan gives.
“Therefore, I fear that option 2 is higher risk.”
“Come together to agree an Island Plan for the good of the Island”
Urging councillors from all sides of the chamber to “come together to agree an Island Plan for the good of the Island” Seely, went on to say,
“The longer we delay, the more vulnerable the Island is to unsustainable development pushed forward by developers who I do not believe have the best interests of the Island at heart.”
Seely explained that once any new Island Plan is put in place, it should be reviewed as soon as new laws come into place.
He said,
“Once new planning laws go through, the Island can scrap the targets and use a methodology more suitable for the Island which reduces greenfield building and increases affordable housebuilding.”
Assurance sought
He finished by saying,
“I am seeking a commitment from the Council’s political leadership that, once the new planning laws are in place in the next year or so, the Council will seek to re-examine both the standard methodology used by the plan and the unsustainable housing numbers.
“On that, the Leader of the Council has given me a commitment that the Plan will be paused and reconsidered, if and when relevant changes to Planning Laws are made by the Government.”
Article edit
6.57pm 4th Oct 2022 – Headline changed from ‘Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, throws his support behind the draft Island Planning Strategy’
