'Cramped' And 'Intrusive': 50 Objections Stalls Newport Housing Development

After more than 50 objections, the building of houses on the outskirts of Newport has been refused.

Planning permission for 14 homes on the commuter cut-through Landscape Lane, which connects Staplers Road and Long Lane, has been rejected by the Isle of Wight Council — as it would be a ‘cramped’ and ‘visually intrusive’ development.

The outline plans, submitted last year by Mrs C Ferns, of the Cotton Trust, were said to provide a significant positive opportunity and see two, three and four-bed houses built as a mix of one and two-storey properties, in two cul-de-sacs but the rural feel to the lane would be kept.

The site had been allocated for housing in the draft Island Planning Strategy in 2018, but only for ten houses.

Current residents of Landscape Lane, as well as other concerned parties including the Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, CPRE IW and Island MP Bob Seely, objected to the development.

Reasons for objecting included the development being built on agricultural, greenfield land, not meeting the local housing need and that it would be an overdevelopment of the site leading to more traffic congestion.

The planning officer’s report said the proposed cul-de-sacs would cause a ‘more compact and cramped arrangement’ of the dwellings — with the two bungalows appearing ‘particularly awkward’ — ‘at odds’ with the existing residential ribbon development surrounding the area.

The refusal letter from the council’s strategic planning and infrastructure manager, Oliver Boulter, said the development would have a ‘serious adverse impact’ on the character and appearance of the area, would provide  ‘inadequate visibility’ at the junction with Staplers Road and would negatively impact the highway network.

It was also said insufficient information was provided in the planning application to assess the potential impact the building would have on the historic environment of the site as well as a lack of demonstrating how safe and adequate pedestrian links would be provided.

Cllr Matt Price, the local councillor for the area and Vice Chairman of the IOW Planning Committee said:

“I am absolutely delighted that this application has been refused! Local residents were totally against this unnecessary development and saw this as another attempt of further urban sprawl on the outskirts of our county town. This site is currently farmed by a tenant farmer who’s family have been farming this land for generations and this parcel of land is fairly unique as it can be farmed virtually all year round.

“The refusal has been given for multiple reasons and reinforces the fact that site should not be used for anything other than and should be preserved for farming. I had already requested that if this application was to be recommended for approval then the application should be called in for consideration and determination by the IOW Council Planning Committee. 

“The development was neither wanted or needed and would do nothing to provide the type of housing we require locally and in fact would have harmed the rural feel of this part of Newport. I am grateful for all the support local people have given to objecting to this application and also for the approach taken by Island Roads, the IOW Councils Planning Officers and the other consultee’s to listen to the objections, enable site visits with me under the difficult restrictions and to carefully consider all aspects of this application. I would also like to thank Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council for their considerations and objections.

 “There is absolutely no need currently for ANY greenfield development within Newport as there are more than enough brownfield and previously developed sites ready and waiting for redevelopment. I will continue to fight inappropriate applications on Greenfield sites within the ward I represent.”

Applicants can appeal the council’s decision and go to the Planning Inspectorate.