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Isle Of Wight's 'Unique' Housing Market Recognised By New Government Bill

Ian Wellby, Trustee of the Isle of Wight CPRE

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has welcomed new government’s recognition of the Isle of Wight's 'unique' housing market.

The latest draft of the “Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill” has been amended to make central government housing targets non-mandatory, if exceptional circumstances could be proven.

Guidance released this week explicitly suggests that Islands with a high percentage of elderly residents may justify the use of an alternative method.

This represents a significant win for the Isle of Wight CPRE, which has long campaigned for a bespoke local-needs based housing policy.

The group previously commissioned its own demographic research highlighting the flaws in applying top-down housing targets to the Island’s
unique housing market.

Commenting on the proposals, Ian Wellby, Trustee of the Isle of Wight CPRE said:

“This is potentially really good news for the Island, and all those who value its unique landscape and heritage.

"Thousands of Islanders have spoken up against overdevelopment across our precious Island.

"Under the current system they are ignored as developers are able to bypass local views by appealing to mandatory top down government housing targets.

"This is a significant win, and hopefully an important step in delivering a housing policy based on local need, not external demand, we’ve long campaigned for.”

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