According to the agenda for the next Planning Committee (15th December), the proposed development of the Pan Estate (dubbed ‘Super Pan’) will be heard at the meeting, just three months after its submission.
Local IW Councillor for Newport East, Geoff Lumley, has been in touch with a ‘letter to the editor’ and is not a happy man.
The application is being made by the IW Council itself and Cllr Lumley is unhappy about the fact that the application seems to be steamrolling through the planning system, when the same type of application for private developers normally takes much longer.
Cllr Lumley believes that the rush will force both himself and his colleagues on the Newport Parish Council to reject the application due to a lack of consultation.
Cllr Lumley said, “This application was drawn up by the IW Council in consultation with a small number of local residents. I was deliberately kept out of that process. Once the application was submitted in mid-September I received a large number of calls and comments from other local residents about aspects of the application that they were unhappy about and that they wished me to pursue. These concerns were also picked up by Newport Parish Council who made an extensive objection to the details of the application with my full support and involvement in mid-October.
“When neither I nor the Parish Council had heard anything further, I asked the Council last month if they would be responding to any of those concerns – and was told no. Additionally at no point have the Manchester-based planning consultants the Council is using for this application (Urban Vision) ever contacted me about the concerns I passed onto the Council’s planning office in early November.
“These concerns specifically relate to the absence of a road link between old and new Pan, hardly conducive to integration; the closer proximity of the development to existing homes than originally indicated; and a number of traffic issues for the entire Newport area.”
Cllr Lumley finished by saying, “This is deeply concerning for me. I understand and entirely support the need for more rented, affordable housing on the Island and want to support this application. However, without some changes that I consider easily addressed, I am compelled to oppose it. The emphasis with this application seems to be get it through committee as fast as possible and sod the concerns of local people and the local councillor. A little less rush and I am sure all concerned would be on board.”
View from the council
We’ve contacted the council for a statement on the speed of the application process and will update this article with once we hear back. which re received last night.
Cllr George Brown, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for planning said: “The council’s planning team has followed due and proper process when dealing with the proposed Pan development. All statutory timescales have been adhered to during this process.”
Cllr Dawn Cousins, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member with responsibility for housing said: “I am personally delighted that a scheme of such crucial importance in terms of the affordable housing it will provide and inward investment it will attract – has been dealt with so efficiently.
“This is another example of the council taking a positive lead in bringing forward regeneration and renewal projects of great importance and benefit to the Island.
“The Pan development itself has evolved after years of consultation with – and participation by – the local community through the Pan Neighbourhood Partnership. In fact I cannot recall the local community ever having had such a direct and meaningful involvement in bringing forward a scheme of this nature.
“If Cllr Lumley has particular concerns, he has the opportunity, along with anyone else who wishes to apply to speak, to raise these at the planning meeting when the application is considered next week.”
Full details of the planning application can be found on the Planning application.
Image: Copyright HGP Architects
