Developer Withdraws Conversion Plan That Would 'Render' Extended Family 'Homeless

A developer has withdrawn an application for a house conversion which an Isle of Wight tenant said would render her ‘homeless along with her extended family’.

Plan Research rescinded its proposal to convert two existing flats within Hurstleigh – a house with a ‘substantial garden’ on The Broadway, Totland, after it was met with a public outcry.

Enya Dunn-Green, a current resident of the property, previously condemned the application as a move that would ‘ruin’ an ‘intimate community’ built over five generations.

The applicant’s plans involved a rear extension to the building, enabling the creation of four two-bedroom apartments, replacing one three-bedroom flat and another with four bedrooms.

A submitted Design and Access Statement said:

“This scheme would create relatively affordable housing for starter homes, or properties for those wishing to downsize.

“According to the statistics available, two-bedroomed properties are in the most need on the Island, and these units involve the re-use of previously developed land.

“There have been several previous permissions for conversions to four flats at this property, as the council has consistently agreed that the property is suitable for conversion.

“Unlike previous schemes, the current application does not propose on-site parking spaces, as this would require the loss of the front garden area.

“With this in mind, we have demonstrated within a parking survey that there is sufficient vehicle parking available in the nearby car park and on the roads in the area.”

The bid was met with a flood of opposition from members of the public however, along with Totland Parish Council.

Last month, Ms Dunn-Green said:

“My family and I have called this humble two-flat villa in Totland our home for over a quarter of a century.

“While my immediate family and I reside in the bottom flat, my extended family live in the one above creating a truly wonderful family home.

“They (the applicants) have recently put forward a planning application seeking to transform our two-flat villa into a four-flat property — an action that would render us homeless and ruin the intimate community we have built over the five generations we have lived in this village.

“It’s essential to keep in mind that tenant eviction not only leads to homelessness but also contributes to the grave social issue of housing instability.

“We are not against property development, but this should not come at the expense of long-term tenants, our community, and the mental and emotional strain such changes bring.”

Totland Parish Council lodged an objection after its members discussed the proposal with local residents.

A spokesperson cited concerns over vehicle and emergency service access to the site and neighbouring properties, parking provision and costs and the proposed extension ‘resulting in a significant loss of daylight, sunlight and privacy for adjacent residents’.