Objections Raised Over Controversial Plans For Six Homes In Cowes

An Isle of Wight town council has joined residents in opposing a controversial housing bid.

Jack Reynold’s planning application for six two-bedroom houses with car parking on land next to 20 and 27 Westwood Close in Cowes has been met with objections from Cowes Town Council (CTC) and four residents.

Earlier this month, highways service provider Island Roads said it could not support the proposal due to parking concerns.

A spokesperson for CTC said:

“This is overdevelopment of the site and there would be restricted access to the proposed properties for emergency service vehicles. The former planning application in 1993 that was refused and appealed in 1994 was for four properties and now this application has increased to six properties.

“It is also noted that local neighbours have objected due to overlooking as have Island Roads due to visibility issues on the highway network.”

Emily Collinson, who lives on Churchill Road, said light into her garden and house would be ‘greatly affected’ by the homes and that she had seen ‘many foxes and badgers’ using the application site.

“I work for the emergency services having to work a mixture of day/night shifts. I need to be able to sleep during the day if I am working a 12-hour night shift and that won’t be possible due to the noise of building machinery,” she added.

The proposed homes are in a ‘sustainable location’ and close to Cowes and Gurnard’s ‘services and facilities’, according to a Planning Statement from Mr Reynolds’s agent, BCM Wilson Hill.

“The proposal is for six dwellings designed to reflect the existing dwellings (being of the same height, fenestrations and using the same colour palette and materials).

“The layout of the dwellings will be arranged in a simple terrace of four properties, with a further pair of semi-detached dwellings, following the general building line of the existing properties.

“The proposal will allow for modest gardens to the rear with open frontage and low-level boundary treatments, again, following the same context of the original area layout and design.

“The scheme is considered acceptable in principle as the housing meets the needs of the local area with a mix of smaller family houses.”

County Hall’s public consultation on application 25/01013/FUL ends on September 8 and a decision is due on September 29.