Isle Of Wight's Planning Strategy Faces Revision After Inspector Review

Planning inspectors have reviewed the Island Planning Strategy (IPS) and shared their initial views.

In a letter to the Isle of Wight Council, they agreed with planning officers that there was not a strong enough reason to lower annual housing targets by claiming 'exceptional circumstances.'

However, they did not support the proposal to build 453 new homes per year as outlined in the plan, and, instead, offered effectively two alternative options to address their concerns:

• Bring forward a short term (1-5 years) IPS with an annual housing target of 703, identifying additional land or sites.

• Withdraw the plan from the examination process and start work on a new local plan using the current standard method of 1,100 dwellings per year.

Full Council will consider the options at an extraordinary meeting next month.

• Read the Planning Inspectorate post-hearing letter

Ollie Boulter, the council's strategic manager for planning and infrastructure delivery, said officers were currently reviewing the inspectors' letter, which followed a series of examination hearings earlier this year.

He said: 

"We understand the urgency and importance of addressing these housing figures.

"The council is committed to finding a solution that meets the needs of our community while adhering to the inspectors' recommendations.

"We recognise the pressing need to resolve these housing issues. Our goal is to find a viable solution that balances the Island's housing needs with regulatory requirements, ensuring sustainable development and meeting the growing demand and need for housing on the Isle of Wight."

The IPS, which aims to guide future development on the Island, has recently undergone extensive review and consultation.

The council submitted the IPS to the government's independent Planning Inspectorate after a Regulation 19 consultation in August 2024, during which more than 700 comments were reviewed.

Inspectors said most policies in the IPS were acceptable or could be made acceptable with minor adjustments.

They found no reasons to remove any proposed housing or employment sites and identified no procedural or legal compliance issues.

However, the inspectors did not agree with the council’s proposals to implement net zero requirements ahead of them becoming national policy.