Council land for development

Opportunities to access council land for development

The woodland at Los Altos Park in Sandown.

Isle of Wight Council (IWC) Land Residential opportunity property disposals

IWC will create a pipeline of council owned potential residential development sites.
IWC will adopt a variety of methods of marketing for disposing of its sites.
IWC will provide an information pack for each site which will assist the marketing and streamline the disposal process. IWC wishes to minimise conditionality of offers as far as possible.
IWC will generally undertake pre-marketing investigations to clarify planning, contamination, boundary/ownership issues, title issues and other matters, where possible.
Where grants might be applicable to sites disposals will be considered with or without take-up of the grant.
As part of the marketing IWC will clarify its requirements for each site in relation to housing delivery.
A key consideration for all disposals will be the timescale of delivery.
IWC is keen to ensure the maximum number of residential units are provided on all sites, including the maximum number of affordable units possible.
The Council is under no obligation to accept the highest or any bid.

Models we will encourage

The Council will adopt a flexible approach to the disposal of its sites. Such approaches might include:

Straightforward sale by private treaty
Joint venture
Offers on conditional and unconditional bases
Building lease followed by sale of freehold
Meeting affordable threshold of 35% or above
Community Asset Transfer may be considered subject to appropriate social, economic and environmental criteria being established
May consider less conventional approaches to delivery

It is worth noting that if the developer develops a site for housing, the developer agrees to give priority to local residents when selling or renting the completed units.

Whichever method council chooses to dispose of its property assets, it must comply with Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 which requires Local Authorities to achieve best consideration.