Concerns Raised Over Plans For Six New Homes At St Helens Coastal Resort

Residents and St Helens Parish Council have voiced concerns over plans to build six new homes on land within St Helens Coastal Resort.

The proposal, submitted by Coastal Parks Hold Limited, would see an existing storage building demolished and replaced with six residential properties on a brownfield site off Field Lane.

While the applicant says the development would bring benefits by delivering new housing and making better use of underutilised land, a number of objections have been lodged citing concerns over traffic, flooding, drainage and the lack of affordable housing.

Among those objecting are local residents Patrick and Mary Towle, who questioned whether the scheme would address the area's existing drainage problems.

They said the proposed homes would be built on land where water runoff can be significant during periods of heavy rainfall and warned that local drains already struggle to cope, with nearby footpaths frequently flooding.

St Helens Parish Council has also raised objections, describing "serious concerns" over the impact additional traffic could have on the area.

The council said the development's allocated parking spaces could lead to at least 12 additional vehicles using nearby roads, while visitors and delivery vehicles may add further pressure.

Concerns were also raised about the impact of construction traffic on Field Lane and The Diggings, which the parish council says are both narrow roads.

The parish council has also questioned what measures would be put in place to deal with surface water runoff and flooding concerns.

Despite the objections, Island Roads has raised no objection to the plans, subject to a condition requiring a new footway to be constructed along the southern boundary of the site adjacent to Field Lane.

Under the proposed condition, no properties could be occupied until the footway has been completed and opened for public use.

Planning consultants Avison Young, acting on behalf of the applicant, say the development has been designed to minimise any impact on neighbouring properties and would sit more than 25 metres from the nearest residential boundaries.

The firm also says additional landscaping would help reduce overlooking, while the scheme provides parking in line with planning standards and is located close to public transport links.

The Isle of Wight Council's consultation on the application has now closed, with planners expected to make a decision by 30th June.