Increased local control of planning decisions, a move away from national government targets, increased protection of our local environment and the creation of more affordable housing are some of the many ‘wins’ that will be delivered if Full Council agrees the Draft Island Planning Strategy next week (5th October), say councillors.
Fuller: Have a say in restricting second and holiday homes
Cllr Paul Fuller, Cabinet member for planning said,
“Passing the Island Planning Strategy will provide an opportunity to have lower housing number than we’ve had since the mid-1990s and enable us to refuse more planning applications on principle.
“It will also allow us to try to secure deeper discounts from market values for our affordable housing, making it more affordable for more island residents.
“In addition, it means local communities will be able to have a say in restricting second and holiday homes and this in turn will lead to more housing availability.”
Bacon: Increased levels of protection to the countryside
Cllr Jonathan Bacon, Cabinet member for the environment and climate change, highlighted the environmental importance of the plan.
He said,
“It will enable us to increase levels of protection to the countryside and direct more developments to brownfield sites.
“It will ensure that new housing being built is “net zero” helping to combat climate change and reduce energy use and also enable us to create new policies dealing with specific elements of environmental protection.”
Fuller: Increase ability to refuse inappropriate development
Cllr Fuller added,
“Adopting the current draft will increase our ability to refuse inappropriate development. The Island Planning Strategy will put the council in a much stronger position.
“We should move this forward so we can move to the formal stage of seeking public representations and then submit our strategy to the process of consideration by a Government Inspector.”
Next stage of the rigorous statutory process
If the draft is approved by Full Council it will enable the plan to move through a rigorous statutory process set by national Government, with the local authority publishing the document and seeking public representations that will then be considered by a Government inspector appointed to consider the content of the plan.
A process, including public hearings, will then follow, before a final report is produced.
IWC retain control
Throughout the process, the Isle of Wight Council will retain control.
It will have the opportunity to accept or reject the plan based on the inspector’s recommendations.
Fuller: Allows us to locally set our rules
Cllr Fuller stated,
“It is key to enabling the Island to get away from the current situation where we are subject to National Planning Rules.
“This allows us locally to set our rules to develop local housing we local need whilst protecting our unique environment. Should this be supported by Full Council on 5 October, we can move forward into the process for approval by Central Government.”
The Full Council report can be read via the council’s Website (item 8).
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
