The major redevelopment of a former reservoir in Cowes into nearly 150 houses has been approved — with Isle of Wight Council planners saying it ticks a lot of boxes.
Four years after plans were tabled to build houses on the Somerton Reservoir, permission has finally been granted by the council’s planning committee with nine in favour and two against.
It will see 28 houses, 72 flats and 44 assisted living units, with one guest and one staff unit, built in the footprint of the former reservoir.
Speaking at the committee meeting yesterday, planning agent David Long, on behalf of developers Heartwood Homes, said brownfield sites on the Island were at a premium but they were also a policy preference of the council.
The scheme, Mr Long said, had tried to use the site cleverly, including parking in what would have been the reservoir basin.
The site was quite utopian he said, included on the brownfield register, next to a school, the Cowes Medical Centre, the biggest employer in the area, shops, sustainable transport links — “you could not get better for a mixed-use environment”.
Cllr Vanessa Churchman, one of the two councillors against the development, however, said the design was horrible and thought she was looking at an industrial estate rather than houses but did not object to the principle of housing at the reservoir.
Cllr Peter Spink, the other councillor to object, said he was doing so because of the potential harm caused to the special protection areas in the Solent.
However, Cllr Spink did suggest adding a clause to the permission to find out where new residents had previously lived so it can be determined whether or not new homes are actually going to Islanders.
Cllr Matt Price said the scheme ticked a lot of boxes, as well as adding more assisted living to the Island which will, in turn, free up homes for families and first-time buyers as others downsize.
The permission approved by councillors, proposed by Cllr Chris Jarman, included a number of changes as suggested by multiple members including:
- Introducing a no right-hand turn out of the site onto Newport Road
- The maximum possible roof space used for harvesting solar power
- 25 per cent of car parking, and all bicycle parking spaces, equipped with electric charging points
- A memorial sign in recognition of the historical character of the Toll Gate Cottage
- An ecological management strategy should be produced to deal with the wildlife on site
- A housing priority list for locals to be first in line for the new homes
- A balance of affordable properties across the housing mix
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