Opposition parties on the Isle of Wight have hit back at Government housing reforms, which could see the Island’s housing stock increase by over 50% in 30 years' time.
As first reported by Isle of Wight Radio, the Island could be forced to build 1,045 new homes a year, if the Government's New Standard Method comes into force.
The Isle of Wight Council builds between 250 to 350 homes a year, but is required to deliver an annual target of 640 houses.
The Island’s MP Bob Seely claims he is leading a rebellion against his own Government, in hope that ministers will make an exception for the Island, as previously reported by Isle of Wight Radio.
He said:
"What I am trying to get the Government to do is take a much more flexible attitude to the Isle of Wight, to make sure that we get a plan that is sensitive to local need.”
“I’m working with a lot of colleagues and I think there are a lot of MPs who are very concerned about this.”
In response to the plans, opposition parties on the Isle of Wight have expressed their concerns.
The Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Island Labour, Richard Quigley said:
"I struggle to know where to start with a response to the latest fiasco of an idea from the Conservatives.
"The government's promise of a bonfire of red tape looks more like a buffet for developers. It's another course of action aimed at undermining the fabric of society and bending the law.
"I have some sympathy with the council, the government has used them as a human shield for austerity over the last 10 years ( IW is £90 million worse off). The current planning system isn't fit for purpose, but this is even worse.
"It's interesting that the Tories opposing this plan are referred to as "rebels" when all they are trying to do is keep the status quo. That says more about the government than them developing a moral compass all of a sudden.
"It's quite clear people need homes to live in, our plan would be a mix of housing that includes affordable and council homes(providing an income for the council), away from greenfield sites as much as possible.
"I hope Bob is one of the "rebels" and whilst he is rebelling, he brings back the Island deal he promised."
Leader of the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats, Nick Stuart said:
"How did we get to such a sorry stupid Island Housing target. Did the Council and MP simply fail to get their message to their own Government? They need to demand the removal of Arbitrary housing targets from a controlling centre with little knowledge of our wishes. They need to demand for locally directed money to allow local people to make their own choices. While we need the right to determine how many homes, the type of homes, the mix of rented and owned, and where those homes should be. We need to build the homes our Islanders need and can afford. Youngsters can’t even rent a place close to home while as we become older we need specialist housing with support for small communities.
"They need to be green homes that are not just environmentally sound, but affordable to heat and live in. Haven’t they heard of green social housing, don’t they realise how higher standards are better for our living spaces and better for the environment.
"Do they simply have no imagination of how to build better? Can’t they see how new green industry and jobs could be encouraged on our Island? There is no need for massive greenfield development. There are major sites on the Island crying out for redevelopment and repurposing. Providing the homes Islanders need in the places they need them.
"The Government has a lunatic damaging approach to our needs but we don’t have to accept that. While the Council seem to be locked into a cycle of failure to deliver on the critical needs and a fantastic ability to make a mess of what does go ahead. Perhaps the Council are just tired and lacking in energy so we look forward to their retirement and replacement at the May elections.'"
Daniel James, IW Green Party Chair, said:
“Available housing is ever more likely to end up in the unregulated Airbnb market, where yields can be several times that of assured shorthold tenancies for the same property. And our rural and coastal areas might be least suited to additional housing, due to a lack of infrastructure and transport options.
“We suspect these massively increased housing targets have been invented so Boris Johnson can claim another million houses have been built during this parliamentary term. It's a big round number, and it sounds impressive. But unless we do something radical, like preventing highly indebted buy-to-let landlords from outbidding local people, we'll have built all over the Island's green fields with no impact on the affordability crisis whatsoever."
The Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Isle of Wight Green Party, Vix Lowthion, said:
“The Isle of Wight Green Party are committed to protecting our Island coastal landscape and rural wildlife habitats for many generations to come. Unfortunately, this Conservative government in these planning proposals have intentionally chosen to prioritize big money, large scale developers and concreting over too much of the Isle of Wight.
“We disagree with Bob Seely – these government plans are not just bad for the Island, they are bad for the country as a whole.
“Instead, we should be committing to empowering local communities throughout the entire process, and for Islanders that means ensuring that genuinely affordable housing in small scale developments is actually being built.”
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