By Carole Dennett
The applicants behind the proposed 900-home Pennyfeathers development, near Ryde, say they will not take the latest setback lying down.
On Wednesday the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee voted six to one against supporting the detailed plans before them, because, they said, the layout did not provide an inclusive design. Committee members argued that the location of the community centre, school land and MUGA (Multi Use Games Area), being divorced from Ryde and with no connecting cycle routes, would not be accessible or provide a sense of place or a strong vibrant community. The plans had been approved by officers, but although committee members accepted the principle that the land should be used for housing, they said the plans were of low quality. One member, Cllr Vanessa Churchman referenced the 1964 hit ‘Little Boxes’, which described suburban housing as little boxes “all made out of ticky-tacky”, and which “all look just the same.” She said: “In this day and age we can do better,” and that she could have drawn up better plans herself.
Cllr Geoff Brodie, who proposed the motion for refusal, said the layout would lead to residents being separated from the rest of Ryde, and would create major social problems. He said he was disappointed to turn the proposals down, as many Islanders are in desperate need of homes, but lessons had not been learned from Pan Meadows in his ward. The majority of the committee agreed with him, with just Cllr. Debbie Andre voting for the development to go ahead in line with the plans.
Other concerns were raised about the developers, whose identity was unknown even to the council, the eight years that had elapsed since outline planning permission had been granted, the communal heating plant being gas-fired, traffic levels, cycle lanes, fencing, police concerns, the level of affordable housing, the possible loss of a New Homes Bonus, and the width of a buffer zone between housing and a wooded area.
Local councillor for South East Ryde, Warren Drew (pictured), said after the meeting: “I am in favour of development, but it must be the right type. You can’t contradict the fact that Ryde is in something of a crisis in terms of affordable housing. This is a suitable site, but we need more engagement with the community and the issues with the layout, amenities and the green belt need to be addressed. It is a fine balance, but when all that was taken together, the balance was judged to be on the side of refusal.”
Fellow Ryde councillor, Michael Lilley, who voted against the proposals, said it was a major win for commonsense. He said: “Pennyfeathers has haunted Ryde ever since it was granted outline planning permission in 2015. Two derelict houses on Marlborough Road stand as a monument to eight years of awaiting the detailed plans from ghost developers. Ryde needs housing for real people now, not pie-in-the-sky unrealistic and non-deliverable fantasy.”
However, Glen Hepburn, of Hepburn’s Planning Consultancy, said that the fight was not over yet. As it is now “gloves off” as his clients, Smallbrook Developments Ltd, intend to appeal the case to the Planning Inspectorate, and will raise issues about the IW Council’s actions in the eight years since outline permission was granted.
He explained the new owners, who bought the site, are effectively funders of the project who get planning permission, while investors and other companies, like housing developers, buy into the scheme.
The outline consent has expired, so the developers cannot now submit a new second-stage application for Pennyfeathers, meaning that, if a new scheme comes forward, it would have to start again at the beginning of the planning process.
Records at Companies House show that Smallbrook Developments filed accounts for a dormant company in January this year, declaring assets of £1. More than 75 per cent of the company’s shares are owned by Kilnsea Developments Ltd, whose latest accounts show net liabilities of almost £11 1/2 million pounds.