THE Island is in danger of becoming an extension of Southampton and Portsmouth's urban sprawl if the Isle of Wight Council's planning strategy goes forward, campaigners have warned.

The Isle of Wight Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is pleading with the council to re-think its Island Planning Strategy.

It has also urged Isle of Wight residents to wake up to the dangers.

The campaign body says the plan, which includes building 9,615 new homes, is not in the interest of Islanders and will destroy hundreds of acres of countryside.

The Island Planning Strategy is a document that will shape planning policy until 2035.

It will see a massive increase in housebuilding, with the majority on greenfield sites.

There is also the potential for two completely new villages to be built in open countryside — one near Wellow, the other near Arreton.

The CPRE says the new housing is not needed by Islanders and is being built to meet the demand of those who want to move to the Island, such as retirees, or those wanting second homes on the Isle of Wight.

Ian Wellby, campaigner and CPRE member, said: "The Island Plan is a big con — it is being sold as delivering on Islanders' needs, but that is not what it is doing.

"The population of Islanders is declining, not increasing. This is about meeting external demands.

"People are being hoodwinked into thinking that we need this for our children.

"We have around 60,000 houses on the Isle of Wight and they want to add 10,000 to that in 15 years.

"This kind of approach could turn the Island into an extension of Southampton and Portsmouth's urban sprawl.

"It will put pressure on our infrastructure, our health service and will do untold damage to our rural landscape.

"Should we be destroying countryside for this external demand for housing?

"There is a need for housing for Islanders, but we can fill our social housing needs by building on brownfield sites.

"If the council is going to put taxpayers' money to work, it should be investing in brownfield sites — but it is easier to carpet over green fields.

"I don't think people realise just how much is going to be built. It is a huge amount of destruction."

Alex Haig-Thomas, chair of the CPRE on the Isle of Wight, said: "We are a tourist Island and people won't come here to see more tarmac and more housing developments like those that are exactly the same all over the country.

"Once these green field sites have been built on, they are gone for good. No one is going to spend money to dig up concrete and re-establish ancient woodland.

"The Island Plan includes lots of good things, like the dark skies initiative and other protections. We are in favour of lots of aspects of the plan, but we have got to say no to this number of houses.

"There is nothing wrong with championing beauty. It is worth fighting for the landscape and wildlife on the Isle of Wight.

"Hundreds of acres of green field space is going to be turned into tarmac and housing. It is a large cost the Island will pay."

Isle of Wight Cllr for Newport North, Matt Price, has joined the call to re-think the Island Plan's housing proposals.

Strongly protesting a proposed land allocation that could see 880 new houses on land between Fairlee Road and Staplers Road, Cllr Price said: "Having recently met with our MP Bob Seely on the subject of Island Plan review, it has become clear that the housing target for the Island is undeliverable on a huge scale.

"We must as a planning authority work with the government to ensure an appropriate housing target, which can realistically meet our actual housing need for the Island."

The deadline for consultation on the Island Plan is February 25. Comments can be made on the Isle of Wight Council's website.