ISLE of Wight MP Bob Seely has joined the call for a more pro-active approach to solving the Island's housing crisis. 

He told the County Press the Isle of Wight Council needs to move faster with its Modern Methods of Construction and Relocatable Homes project, which includes modular buildings.

It comes after residents expressed serious concerns about how, six months on from throwing its weight behind modular, re-locatable houses, there appears to have been no movement from the local authority. 

Yesterday, the council said it was still actively working with several providers who originally expressed an interest, and a decision is expected this summer.

To this, MP Bob Seely said: "The council needs to move faster. We are already in the summer and we don’t just need a decision — we need solutions being implemented now.

“It is not right that Island families are having to be provided with temporary housing on the mainland. 

"The Isle of Wight Council, with its responsibility for housing and homelessness, should be pro-actively pursuing all options for expanding the availability of suitable housing provision here on the Island.

Read more: 

“In this regard, I welcome the announcement made by the local authority earlier this year to utilise modular, re-locatable homes to provide housing for the families most in need — as well as the significant allocation of funds in the budget for 2022/23 for taking this forward. 

"As the County Press reported this week, it is disappointing that progress has not been made on this front.

“I understand there is an Island business — as Cllr Suzie Ellis has highlighted — that has submitted an expression of interest to the council six months ago and has heard nothing back.

“I will be asking the council to explore how it can accelerate the decision-making process to ensure the urgency of this issue is tackled without further delay. 

"I am grateful to Suzie Ellis for flagging up the local potential solution and will be asking for further details and how I might be able to assist.”


 

The heartbreaking story of a family of six forced to move into just one room highlights the plight of dozens of Isle of Wight families.

Colin Booth spoke to us about his family's situation.