Green Light For “Extremely Affordable” Homes On Former Social Services Site

Plans to demolish a former social services building in Newport and replace it with ten “extremely affordable” homes have been approved by the Isle of Wight Council.

At a meeting on Tuesday evening (25 November), the planning committee backed the council’s outline proposal to tear down the redundant Social Services Headquarters at 17 Fairlee Road.

In its place, a single building containing ten two-bedroom apartments will be constructed.

Planning development manager Russell Chick told councillors the properties were expected to be marketed at around £100,000, describing them as “extremely affordable” for local people.

Ahead of the meeting, officers recommended the plans be conditionally approved, subject to a legal agreement securing 100% on-site affordable housing and a contribution towards Solent Special Protection Area habitat mitigation. Nine councillors supported the recommendation.

A report to the committee said the loss of the existing building — which has ongoing issues including dry rot and the risk of becoming derelict — would be outweighed by “substantial social benefits” linked to affordable housing delivery, as well as economic and environmental gains.

These include more energy-efficient homes that could reduce residents’ energy bills, support for the Island’s construction sector, and opportunities to improve landscaping and biodiversity on the site.

The council also highlighted that the land forms part of around 60 hectares of Island brownfield suitable for redevelopment, with Brownfield Land Release Funding to be used to clear the site.

However, not all members were convinced. Cllr Peter Spink (Empowering Islanders Group) opposed the scheme, arguing it would not help those in temporary accommodation.

He criticised the plans after being told the homes would be “discount market sale” rather than social rent.

He said:

“Council-owned land gives us the best opportunity of taking people off the housing register.

"We get affordable housing through private development, not through council-owned land.

"I don’t know why people voted for a policy that council-owned land should be assessed for social housing if we’re choosing to ignore it.”

Work on the redevelopment is expected to move forward once legal agreements are finalised.