Isle Of Wight Council Considers Six Sites For New Social Rent Homes

The Isle of Wight Council is exploring plans to deliver new social rent homes on six key council-owned sites across the Island, including former school land and the old driving test centre.

The Policy, Finance and Resources Committee is set to review locations in Lake, Nettlestone, Newport, and Yarmouth where social housing could be viable.

The move follows a £210,000 award from the Council Housebuilding Support Fund (CHSF), which will help progress the sites through the planning process — though the funding does not cover construction costs.

Social rent homes are defined by housing charity Shelter as genuinely affordable properties, with rents linked to local incomes and secure tenancies.

The CHSF forms part of the government’s Council Housebuilding Skills and Capacity Programme, launched last year.

The six sites under consideration are:

• Berry Hill, Lake – former Island Learning Centre

• Eddington Road, Nettlestone – grazing field

• 17 Fairlee Road, Newport – former social services HQ

• Medina Way, Newport – former driving test centre

• Pyle Street, Newport – acquired from Homes England

• Mill Lane, Yarmouth – part of former Yarmouth School

The Council’s report notes that no viability testing has yet been completed for the sites, and additional funding may be required from schemes such as the government’s £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme to make projects feasible.

Full council will make the final decisions on each site at its next meeting, scheduled for 25 February 2026.