The Isle of Wight CPRE, the countryside charity, welcomes central Government’s recognition of the Island’s unique housing market, and the suggestion that central government targets may not be appropriate for determining the Island’s Local Plan housing numbers.
The latest draft of the Government’s “Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill” has been amended to make central government housing targets non-mandatory, if exceptional circumstances could be proven.
Importantly, Government guidance released this week explicitly suggests that “Islands with a high percentage of Elderly Residents” may be one example of “characteristics which may justify the use of an alternative method [to standard government targets]”.
This represents a significant win for the Isle of Wight CPRE, who have long campaigned for a bespoke local-needs based housing policy for the Island. The group previously commissioned their own demographic research highlighting the flaws in applying top-down housing targets to the Island’s unique housing market.
Wellby: This is a significant win and one we’ve long campaigned for
Commenting on the proposals, Ian Wellby, Trustee of the Isle of Wight CPRE said,
“This is potentially really good news for the Island, and all those who value its unique landscape and heritage. Thousands of Islanders have spoken up against over-development across our precious Island, but under the current system they are ignored as developers are able to bypass local views by appealing to mandatory top down government housing targets.
“The Isle of Wight CPRE (Campaign for Protection of Rural England) has highlighted just how ill-suited these targets are to the Island’s unique housing market. We supported the Island’s MP Bob Seely in winning a significant victory for the Island, leading the campaign in Westminster to make top-down housing targets advisory only.
“Following on from this amendment, the Government has now explicitly referenced islands such as ours as having unique housing circumstances, and potentially not suitable for top down targets. This is a significant win, and hopefully an important step in delivering a housing policy based on local need, not external demand, we’ve long campaigned for.”
News shared by Ian on behalf of Isle of Wight CPRE. Ed
