The Isle of Wight council have officially approved the West Acre Park housing development for 472 new homes to be built on former farmland at Westridge Farm.
Objectors will have six weeks from the day of consent (4th August) to seek a Judicial Review.
Read the background to the case in News OnTheWight’s Westridge Farm archives.
Lilley: This has always been a David and Goliath fight
Councillor Michael Lilley (LibDem), the ward councillor for Ryde Appley and Elmfield, said,
“I am just yet again disappointed and angry that IW Council Planning decides to issue consent during August when residents are likely to be away.
“This application was kicked off during Covid19 pandemic and lockdown when residents were at their weakest. However, residents of Ryde Appley and Elmfield will continue the fight against this socially and environmentally unjust decision. It needs to get in front of a judge as the whole process has been wrong.”
Councillor Lilley added,
“I reaffirm my commitment to my residents in their fight for justice to uphold their objections to 472 houses being built on historic and ancient farmland and seek judicial review.
“This has always been a David and Goliath fight with residents on modest incomes against the power and money of IW council, the landowner and the developer. A local authority and big business fighting against the people, where the people have to find the money to challenge the stack of lawyers freely available to those with the money.
“Hundreds of residents have chipped in through a crowdfunding site to get their own lawyers to challenge a flawed process that has meant IW Council granting planning approval.”
Judicial Review
The crowdfunding appeal to fight the planning application via Judicial Review has attracted donations of more than £22,000.
If you want to support the fight against the development going ahead, you can donate via the CrowdJustice Website.
Captiva: Homes for Islanders
The developers, Captiva Homes, stated in September 2022 that 80 per cent of reservations for the new home from Islanders.
Article edit
6.20pm 6th Aug 2023 – Additional comment from ML added
Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm under CC BY 2.0
