Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight Councillor for Bembridge, is backing Build a Better Bembridge. Joe opposes the application for 57 homes on land between Steyne Road and Hillway Road. He has been supporting local residents to comment and object on the Council’s online planning portal. He also spoke at the Parish Council Planning Meeting on 5th January 2022 and again the following day at BBB’s public meeting at the Village Hall. Joe has been campaigning for improvements to the draft Island Planning Strategy to ensure the Village settlement boundary does not expand and green space is protected.
“I am opposed to the application for 57 new homes off Steyne Road because it does nothing to meet the housing need for young, working age Islanders. A 2-bed bungalow on the edge of the same site is being marketed for £625,000. Even if it was subject to a 20% discount, that is not affordable.
“There are also major flooding issues with the site and adjoining roads. Major flood events are now a reality all year round. We had serious flooding in July 2021 where water entered homes in both Hillway Road and Steyne Road causing tens of thousands of pounds of damage. Southern Water are regularly discharging waste water into the sea including sewage because the infrastructure cannot cope with existing homes let alone lots more. Bembridge is also the subject of a statutory flood investigation being carried out by external consultants. The is the worst possible place to be building lots of new homes.
“I encourage all residents to have their say by visiting the Council’s online planning portal (or writing in to County Hall). Even once the deadline of 12th January has passed, submissions made soon after that date should be taken into account.
“I am calling on the leadership of the Isle of Wight Council to show ambition by bringing forward more brownfield sites to meet the Island’s housing needs, particularly key sites in Newport. Until more brownfield sites are put on the priority list, greenfield sites in our small towns and villages will continue to be under threat and considered easy targets by developers.”