Developers Launch Appeal After Retirement Park Plans Rejected On Edge Of Newport

An appeal has been filed over a refused bid to build 16 retirement park homes on the edge of the Isle of Wight’s county town.

County Hall previously rejected Luxury Retirement Living’s proposal for nine two-bedroom units and seven with three bedrooms on land to the south of Newport’s Asda and west of Pan Lane.

A council officer report described the development as ‘cramped’ and ‘out of character’.

However, an appeal statement lodged by GJP Planning and Development Consultancy on behalf of Luxury Retirement Living says the proposals offer ‘adequate residential amenity’ for future residents, including ‘generous’ garden depths and sizes.

It says:

“The development represents a sensitive extension of the recent development parcel to the west, and seeks to provide much-needed housing for the ageing population in a retirement park.

“The proposals are sustainable, not least as the site currently benefits from being within close proximity to existing bus stops and local amenities, and the site does not sit in isolation from the built form of Newport.”

GJP denies the bid represents a ‘cramped form of development’ and says its density is ‘significantly below’ density standards.

The council’s decision report said:

“The development would result in an urbanising form of development out of character in this rural location and thereby resulting in a harmful visual impact to the character of the area and the loss of a green buffer transitional zone between the built-up area to the north and the countryside to the south.

“It is also considered that the development would result in a cramped form of development with a poor layout arrangement which would be to the detriment of the future occupiers of the dwellings.

“Furthermore, at the current time a legal agreement has not been completed to secure affordable housing contributions or to provide mitigation for recreational impacts to the Solent Special Protection Area.”