NEW government housing targets — which could see the IW have more new homes built than either Portsmouth or Southampton — have been slammed by Island MP Bob Seely.

He is taking a stand against a new government White Paper on housing, and is putting forward a plan which he believes would prioritise the needs of Island residents for the first time in generations.

He has the support of IW Council leader, Cllr Dave Stewart, and the council has pledged to work with Mr Seely to make a new ‘exceptional circumstance’ case for the IW and take it to government.

Among the proposals are:

  • Ban greenfield development.
  • Prioritise homes for Islanders.
  • Reduce housing target from thousands — to just 200.
  • Support young with a rent-to-buy programme.
  • Force developers to sell empty properties.

He called housing targets for the IW unachievable and called for the government not to concrete the countryside.

He said: “Half the Island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, yet we will be ordered to build more houses per year than either Portsmouth or Southampton, both cities with major infrastructure and services, and populations almost 70 per cent larger. This is just nonsense.”

Mr Seely said he wants to reverse decades of poorly thought-out housebuilding which has prioritised mainland house-buyers over the needs of Islanders, young and old.

He said: “Island housing needs a re-think and I am seeking a major change to the way we approach the provision of new homes on the Island, so we put Islanders first.

“The government’s current proposals cause me great concern, but this review does at least provide us with a fresh opportunity to look how we make the case for a distinct approach on the IW which has regard for our unique characteristics.

“For the first time in 50 years we need to prioritise the building of one and two-bedroom housing for our young people but also for older people wanting to downsize. We need to build for Islanders.

“We don’t have the infrastructure capacity for significant development. We need to build on brownfield sites located within our existing communities, rather than on green fields in the countryside.

“We need new housing to be genuinely affordable so that we don’t force our young people away.

“It is important we get this right so we protect the IW for future generations.”

He also cites limited capacity for Island builders to construct homes.

Summing up, he said: “We need to accept that the government’s targets set in the Island Plan are flawed.”

At the heart of the fresh approach is asking the government for an exceptional circumstance in housing delivery for the IW due to its separation by sea from the mainland.

Mr Seely pledged to fight ‘tooth and nail’ any plans to increase housing targets.

IW Council leader, Cllr Dave Stewart, said: “I welcome this clear vision from the Island’s MP.

“He is absolutely right to challenge the government’s White Paper, and we share his concern about the potential implications of those proposals.

“Our Island Plan Review has been developed in line with what is required by central government, but there is now the opportunity to make the case for a significantly different approach which has full regard for the unique characteristics and constraints of the Island.

“We firmly believe that many more brownfield sites can be utilised to provide much-needed new homes for Islanders, and in doing so help revitalise our town centres.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be setting out further details of what this will mean in practice.

“Working together, I am confident that we can put forward a persuasive case to Westminster and Whitehall – to complement the initiatives we will be unveiling locally.”

The council will work with Mr Seely to make a case to government.

Update

Richard Quigley, of Island Labour, has responded to Mr Seely's bif to challenge the White Paper.

He said: "I struggle to know where to start with a response to the latest fiasco of an idea from the Conservatives.

"The government's promise of a bonfire of red tape looks more like a buffet for developers. It's another course of action aimed at undermining the fabric of society and bending the law. 

"I have some sympathy with the council, the government has used them as a human shield for austerity over the last ten years (IW is £90 million worse off). They are now trying to remove one of the few remaining areas councils still have some control over. The current planning system isn't fit for purpose, but this is even worse.

"It's interesting that the Tories opposing this plan are referred to as "rebels" when all they are trying to do is keep the status quo. That says more about the government than them developing a moral compass all of a sudden.

"It's quite clear people need homes to live in. Our plan would be a mix of housing that includes affordable and council homes (providing an income for the council), away from greenfield sites as much as possible. The number of homes built per year needs to match the Island's infrastructure. 

"I hope Bob is one of the "rebels" and while he is rebelling, he brings back the Island Deal he promised."