Affordable housing at a rural site was sacrificed in order to bring the sought-after West Wight to Newport cycle track to fruition.
The 16-home development at Lee Farm, Wellow, was permitted by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.
It will also hand over 1.75 km of land, some of which is the former railway track, to the Isle of Wight Council, to create the ‘Greenway’ route.
The landowner, Yarmouth mayor Steve Cowley, will also bear the brunt of £155,000 construction costs, to make the land suitable as a track fit for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.
However, the development will not include affordable housing.
Instead, a financial contribution of more than £27,000 will go towards provision elsewhere.
The application lived and died, Cllr Matt Price said, on the choice between affordable housing and the walking and cycling infrastructure.
He said it was a tough decision as officers had said it may be the only chance the council had to secure the land towards the Greenway.
Cllr Geoff Brodie said it was a real tension issue but he had no doubt the brownfield site should be developed as there was housing need in the area.
He said the council could not cast away the one-off opportunity although it would mean the loss of six affordable properties.
Councillors approved the application with eight in favour, none against and two abstentions because those members did not go on the site visit.
Conditions were added, however, to ensure the Greenway was built and the money provided for affordable housing was spent in the local area.
The houses will be built first but before they are fully occupied, councillors stipulated the Greenway must be constructed.
The use of the land as a public route will be available from the start of the project, once the legal agreement has been signed and handed over to the council.
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