By Isle of Wight Observer
Have you had your say on the draft Island Planning Strategy?
The public consultation deadline has been extended to Monday 25 February, so you still have time to give your views on the planning strategy which sets the approach to planning for the Island up to 2035.
The draft plan sets out the proposed approach towards housing, employment, transport, commercial and leisure land use on the Isle of Wight in the future.
The strategy can be seen in full at https://www.iow.gov.uk/IslandPlanningStrategy along with the consultation link and background information.
Visit 30 High Street, Newport every Tuesday up until 19 February between 10am and 3pm and a member of the planning team will be on hand for residents and businesses can find out more about what it could mean for them and view a hard copy of the strategy.
Paper copies of the plan, along with consultation documents will be available to view at the planning office at Seaclose and County Hall Reception, Newport and the Island’s libraries, during opening hours.
“The draft plan sets out local planning policy up to 2035 and identifies how land is used, determining what will be built where, so it’s really important that Islanders give their views on the draft plan and how their community develops,” said Councillor Barry Abraham, Cabinet member for Planning and Housing.
“The consultation responses will help officers finalise a plan that complies with national requirements and reflects, as far as possible, the views of the Islands’ communities. We must make sure the plan is current and relevant to the short and long-term future and reflects the needs of people living on the Island. It’s important because the plan will be the starting point for assessing the merits of individual planning applications.”
Once the consultation is completed the plan will then be considered by an independent Government planning inspector at a public planning inquiry, which is expected will take place later this year. The inspector will consider any comments made as part of the consultation as well as take representations at the hearing.
Some of the headline numbers being planned for are:
- Homes – 641 new homes per year;
- Jobs – 30 hectares allocated for employment uses over six sites;
- Transport – Road and rail improvements including nearly 8 ½ miles of new cycle tracks proposed;
- Services – 1.3 per cent of the Island proposed for residential and employment designation; and
- Countryside – 28 sites identified by the local communities designated as local green space and 1 new Dark Skies Park supported.
In the interests of sustainability, any comments on the documents should be made via the online portal or by email to policy.consultation@iow.gov.uk. Alternatively, postal comments can be sent Planning Policy, Seaclose Office, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS.
