By Carole Dennett
A major list of council owned land and buildings that could be sold or redeveloped – including six key sites earmarked for potential social rent housing – will go before the Isle of Wight Council’s Policy, Finance and Resources Committee next Thursday (February 5).
The schedule forms the first review under the council’s new Land and Property Asset Disposal Policy, approved last July, which requires all surplus assets to be assessed for their suitability and viability for social rent housing before any disposal takes place.
Six priority sites have been identified for fast-tracked assessment, supported by £210,000 from the government’s Council Housebuilding Support Fund.
The sites include: Berry Hill, Lake – former Island Learning Centre (around 30 units), Eddington Road, Nettlestone – grazing land (40–50 units), 17 Fairlee Road, Newport – former council offices (around 8 flats), Medina Way, Newport – former driving test centre (previous consent for 6 houses), Pyle Street/South Street, Newport – mixed use regeneration site (potentially 65 units) and Mill Lane, Yarmouth – part of the former primary school site (capacity yet to be confirmed).
The report warns that the council currently lacks a dedicated housing delivery team and that future progress will depend on securing external funding, including access to the forthcoming £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
If approved, the schedule will go to Full Council for final sign off, with updates to return every six months as sites progress through planning and viability testing.