Councillors Reject Housing Plans For Greenfield Site In Wellow

Plans to build new homes on greenfield land in the historic Isle of Wight hamlet of Wellow have been rejected by councillors, following strong opposition from local residents.

Members of the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee voted five to five on Redmer Developments’ revised outline application for up to ten houses on land next to Main Road, with the proposal ultimately refused after committee chair Warren Drew used his casting vote.

The decision came despite a recommendation from planning officers to approve the scheme, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement that included 35 per cent affordable housing and a £15,000 contribution towards rights of way improvements.

The site had been the focus of a roadside protest last week, with residents objecting to development on countryside land.

Setting out the reasons for refusal, the council’s planning development manager Russell Chick said the development would be unsustainable and harmful to the area’s rural character.

He said the proposed homes would be located outside a settlement boundary, away from services and facilities, and would rely heavily on private car use.

He added that the scale and layout of the development would have a negative visual and physical impact on the countryside.

Councillors who voted to refuse the application were Paul Fuller, Becca Cameron, Michael Lilley, Claire Critchison, and Warren Drew.

Those who voted against refusal were Ian Ward, Bill Nigh, Martin Oliver, Matthew Price, and Debbie Andre.

Speaking during the debate, Cllr Paul Fuller said the site was in the heart of the countryside and that the proposal failed to mitigate the damage it would cause to the local landscape.

Cllr Michael Lilley raised concerns about road safety, while Cllr Becca Cameron said the development could not be considered sustainable due to its distance from services and reliance on limited public transport.

Backing the scheme, Cllr Ian Ward questioned the assumption that the site was unsustainable, pointing out that people already live and work in the area.

Speaking for the applicant, David Long argued that refusing the scheme conflicted with the Island’s planning strategy and described the development as a natural progression for Wellow.

Shalfleet Parish Council, which objected to the plans, said the design and scale of the proposal were inappropriate, describing it as suburban in character and out of keeping with the hamlet.