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Isle Of Wight's Largest Affordable Housing Development In A Decade To Be Built On Greenfield Site

The largest affordable housing development in a decade can now be built on the Isle of Wight – on a greenfield site.

Properties at Acorn Farm, on Horsebridge Hill, are expected to be delivered over the next three years, for both Islanders on the Isle of Wight Council’s housing register and key workers.

A partnership between Captiva Homes and Sovereign Network Group is behind the plan for 131 houses and 72 flats.

A new play park will also be included in the development.

The proposal had pledged all the flats would be ‘affordable’ and the houses would be sold at market price, but £30 million in government funding now means the entire development will be available for a lower-than-market-value price or socially rented.

Members of the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee approved the plans on Tuesday.

Cllr Chris Quirk called it the sort of development the Island needs.

Cllr Andrew Garratt, for Parkhurst and Hunnyhill, said it was regrettable a greenfield site would be used but added the scheme “was more than sufficiently adequate”.

However, he highlighted concerns about the impact of increased traffic on Horsebridge Hill, calling for the future of the Newport to Cowes route to be considered by the Isle of Wight Council.

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