A proposed 14 house development on the edge of an Isle of Wight village has attracted growing resistance as part of a consultation which ended on Friday.
Since news of the contentious plans for new housing on land at Comforts Farm off Pallance Road by Northwood first broke, two parish councils and five members of the public have filed objections.
Concerns have been raised over highway safety, local need for the houses, the area’s landscape and biodiversity, noise and disruption, the development’s size and location, housing affordability, parking and the accuracy of submitted plans.
Applicants Downer and Long made a submission for four two bed semi-detached houses, eight three bed detached houses and two three bed semi-detached houses.
Also included in the proposal is a vehicle access next to the existing road entrance to Comforts Farm and a driveway within the site which would sit behind a row of trees facing Pallance Road.
Gurnard Parish Council objected ‘in principal’ to the development on a ‘greenfield site’ on the basis that it goes against the Gurnard Neighbourhood Plan (GNP), is outside a settlement boundary, does not ‘reflect local need’ and would harm the ‘special landscape character’ of Luck Valley.
It added the GNP identifies alternative sites with ‘lower landscape sensitivity for development’.
Landscape sensitivity is a measure of the ability of a landscape to accommodate change from specified forms of development or land management, according to government guidance.
Phillip and Elizabeth Harrison, residents of Pallance Road, said:
“The proposed vehicular access into Pallance Road will exacerbate this already congested area. The position of the proposed access would be sited directly opposite five properties which do not have the luxury of off-road parking.
“The parking requirements of the current residents directly opposite the proposed vehicular access have not been considered.
“There is documented evidence relating to ongoing issues with the current level of traffic passing through this area which have been experienced by the residents.
“There is a large, unoccupied house on the Comforts Farm complex. Why is this not being utilised for a family home?”
A Design and Access Statement prepared on behalf of the applicants by the Island-based town planning consultancy, Phil Salmon Planning, said:
“The proposed site has become surplus to agricultural need.
“Given the position of the site close to Pallance Road, and its location in relation to the defined settlement boundary of Cowes, the landowners wish to bring the site forward for housing development, based on principles of effective and contextual design, safe access, highways and public transport gain and environmental enhancement.
“The Comforts Farm owners wish to provide four new houses for family members who wish to live in the area as well as providing for wider local need.
“This is the type of site that should be promoted for the Isle of Wight to meet its housing needs targets, both current and future.”
The document also mentions a ‘significant opportunity’ for an environmental and biodiversity enhancement scheme behind the proposed houses.
Possible improvements listed include a ‘wildflower-rich grassland’, a new native hedgerow, flowering shrubs and fruit trees.
The council is due to make a decision on the application on February 20.
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