By Carole Dennett
The Isle of Wight Council has responded to last week’s IW Observer report, highlighting that only 41 new social housing units have been built on the Island in the past decade. Most years saw no new social homes delivered, with the exceptions of 2021/22 (15 homes), 2022/23 (three) and 2023/24 (23). Over the same ten year period, 556 “affordable” homes were completed – 258 for purchase and 298 for rent.
Affordable rent is defined as 80 per cent of market rent, while affordable purchase includes schemes such as shared ownership or First Homes discounts. Both rent and purchase ‘affordable’ options are often seen as out of reach for many Island homeseekers.
A council spokesman said the authority “remains committed to affordable housing” but acknowledged that delivery “has not kept up with the demand of local residents”.
Under the Island Plan Core Strategy, large developments must provide 35 per cent affordable housing. However, the council said the number of homes actually built is far lower than the number granted planning permission. Since 2015, around 7,300 homes have been approved, but only 3,500 completed. Of these permissions, roughly 5,000 were on large sites where affordable housing should apply – meaning around 1,700 affordable homes could have been delivered. In reality, fewer than 600 were built.
The council spokesman said many approved developments nationwide are never constructed due to rising costs and economic uncertainty.
It also highlighted difficulties in securing agreements with the small number of affordable housing providers operating on the Island, who face higher build costs, reduced government grants, and pressure to upgrade existing stock to meet new energy standards.
The authority said the new Island Planning Strategy aims to improve delivery by allocating clearer development sites, and proposing deeper discounts on affordable homes, adding that it is committed to using “all available tools” to support more affordable housing for Island residents.
Mal Butler