September's most prominent Isle of Wight planning proposals

At the beginning of September, the Isle of Wight Council gave the go ahead to four new apartments, specifically for veterans, on vacant land between 36 and 42 New Street in Newport.

Application 25/00953/FUL was lodged by County Hall’s community led housing officer John Prickett, with proposed homes classed as ‘social, affordable or intermediate rent’ housing and each including a kitchen and living area and bathroom.

Until November last year, the New Street site was used as a council-owned non-public car park.

A couple of days later on September 4, planners accepted the Next Wave Care Group’s (NWCG) proposal for a new residential home providing ‘vital children’s accommodation’ in a converted Sandown house.

The ‘fully insured, multi-disciplinary’ provider previously said it offers a ‘range of supported accommodation and children’s residential care across the Isle of Wight’.

“NWCG provides warm, safe, and therapeutic environments that empower young people to flourish independently into adulthood,” a Statement of Purpose from the firm said.

Island Roads objected to application 25/01000/FUL, pointing to the ‘lack of on-site car parking provision’.

Sandown resident Sally Mcconkey also opposed it, agreeing with Island Road’s objection and expressing concern over the home’s proposed location in an area with an ‘increasing crime rate’.

Council officers’ decision report noted a ‘clearly’ identified need for children’s care home provision on the Island and concluded the location and building would be suited to the proposed use.

Plans for another NWCG home were waved through on September 8: the conversion of a three-bedroom house in East Newport.

Barton resident Aden Garrett said the proposal “sounds like a lovely idea” but expressed concern over a nearby homeless shelter.

In its decision report on application 25/01001/FUL, the council reiterated a clear ‘identified need’.

On September 15, County Hall conditionally approved an outline application for 163 homes and a commercial development on land to the south of Somerton Industrial Park off Cowes’s Newport Road.

The plans submitted by Mr and Mrs Biles would make a ‘significant contribution’ to addressing the Isle of Wight’s housing supply shortage, the Andrew White Planning Consultancy said.

However, planners received 62 objections during two public consultations.

Grounds of opposition included there not being a need for additional housing in Cowes, greenspace loss with brownfield land being available, a lack of school places, tourism impacts and the development being ‘ugly’.

Explaining the consent for application 22/01720/OUT, officers said the development would ‘result in moderate economic benefits’ and ‘significant social benefits’ from housing delivery, outweighing ‘moderately adverse environmental impacts’.