The Isle of Wight Council's planning committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 30 September 2025. The main item for discussion appears to be a previously considered planning application for a large residential development at West Acre Park, Ryde. The committee will also discuss public and member questions, and confirm the minutes of a previous meeting.

West Acre Park Development

The committee will be asked to consider application 20/01061/FUL for the demolition of agricultural buildings and the garage to No 125 Marlborough Road, and the construction of 473 new dwellings at Land South of Appley Road, North of Bullen Road and East of Hope Road (West Acre Park), Ryde. The application also includes a single-storey cafe, a two-storey doctor's surgery and B1 office space, as well as associated infrastructure, public open spaces, a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), allotments, public rights of way, and highway improvements.

This application has a complex history, having been approved by the committee previously, then subject to a judicial review and a court of appeal case. The report pack states that the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal on the sole ground that the council failed to comply with its obligation under Article 40(3)(b) of the Development Management Procedure Order 2015 to place a copy of the proposed or finalised section 106 agreement on the planning register prior to issuing planning permission. The Court of Appeal did confirm that the resolution of 25 April 2023 approving the grant of planning permission was not affected by this failure.

According to the report pack, since the decision was quashed, further information has been submitted to update various reports and the Environmental Statement. Councillors will also be aware of revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF ) since the resolution to grant planning permission in 2023. The Island Planning Strategy is also further advanced than when the application was previously considered.

Ryde Town Council object to the application, citing a lack of a coordinated highway plan and concerns that the financial contribution for the site may not be enough to achieve the required junction improvements. Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council have also objected, raising concerns about the proposal's deviation from the Development Plan, the lack of community input, and the absence of a thorough assessment of potentially appropriate sites.

The NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) has requested that the parcel of land identified for a doctor's surgery is transferred to the NHS at no cost, as a contribution towards mitigating the impacts of the development. The ICB has submitted heads of terms setting out timescales for delivery, requiring evidence of funding for construction, a Health Service Provider committed to occupy the surgery, and NHS funding for recurring premises costs within seven years of commencement.

The Strategic Manager for Planning and Infrastructure's report concludes that the principle of the proposed development remains acceptable and in accordance with local and national policies on the delivery of housing. The report also states that the proposed development would not result in unacceptable impacts on ecology and trees, and would comply with policies SP5, DM2 and DM12 of the Island Plan Core Strategy.

The report recommends conditional permission subject to conditions and subject to legal agreement.

Public Question Time

Members of the public will be able to ask questions of the committee, provided they have submitted them in writing by 25 September 2025.

Members' Question Time

Councillors can ask questions to the chair of any committee about items on the agenda. They can also ask questions if they have given one clear working day's notice in writing to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk (no later than 4.00 pm on Friday, 26 September 2025), or if the question relates to an urgent matter and they have the consent of the Chair.