Concerns Raised Over Affordable Housing Delivery On Isle Of Wight

Concerns have been raised at County Hall about the Isle of Wight Council’s delivery of affordable housing amid what officers described as “challenged economic circumstances.”

Independent councillor Geoff Brodie told a meeting of the policy, finance and resources committee that housing remained “consistently the most pressing issue” facing the authority.

Statistics from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Office for National Statistics show that Island housing has become significantly less affordable since 2002, with private rents rising sharply in recent years.

Council figures also reveal that the proportion of new affordable homes built on the Island has dropped — from 23.3 per cent of all new housing in 2021/22 to just 7.3 per cent in 2023/24.

Around £25 million of capital spending for affordable housing has been earmarked in the council’s 2025/26 budget, but this remains “subject to business case.”

Cllr Brodie questioned when those struggling without housing could expect action, saying:

“We set a capital budget… it’s all bigged up in a media release, but we don’t actually deliver it, do we?”

Responding, Chris Ward, the council’s director of finance, said:

“To be fair, there have been a number of acceptable business cases that have come through the year and we have pursued a good number of new affordable housing.

"The economic circumstances are really, really challenged – to deliver affordable, social housing, you probably need 50 per cent subsidy.”

The council says it is continuing to face financial pressures, particularly in adult social care and children’s services.

Despite this, County Hall says progress has been made. Director of adult social care and housing needs, Laura Gaudion, pointed to recent purchases of properties in Godshill and Horsebridge Hill, as well as stock transfers from housing providers to the council to help with homeless and emergency accommodation.

Most recently, planning permission was granted for a veterans’ housing scheme on the site of a Newport car park.