Island Planning Strategy report published ahead of key council meeting

A report detailing proposed changes to the Island Planning Strategy has been published ahead of a key meeting of the Isle of Wight Council’s Policy, Finance and Resources Committee on Thursday 6 November.

The committee will consider the report and make recommendations to Full Council which will consider the changes at its meeting on 19 November.

If agreed, a six-week public consultation will begin later this year.

All feedback received during the consultation would then be sent to the Planning Inspectors, who would then re-open the examination of the strategy.

The Island Planning Strategy is the council's emerging local plan — a document that sets out how land on the Island should be used and developed over the coming years.

It covers everything from housing and employment to infrastructure and environmental protection, and once adopted, it will guide planning decisions across the Island.

The newly published report outlines a package of changes that respond to concerns raised by Planning Inspectors earlier this year.

Following hearing sessions held in spring 2025, the Inspectors wrote to the council in April identifying five key areas requiring further work.

In May, Full Council agreed to continue with the independent examination of the strategy and instructed officers to address the issues and prepare for public consultation.

The newly published report sets out proposed changes in five key areas:

• Housing shortfall: Nine additional sites and two policy amendments to meet a shortfall of 315 homes over the next five years.
• Sustainability appraisal: Updates to the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal, which supports the strategy.
• Policy C11: Removal of the policy requiring all new development to be net zero, to align with national guidance.
• Affordable housing viability: Revised evidence shows that delivering 35 per cent affordable housing is not viable across the Island. A reduction is proposed in some areas, while retaining the ‘Island affordable’ definition to ensure deeper discounts than national policy.
• Ancient woodland buffer: A reduction in the buffer zone between ancient woodland and new development, from 50 metres to 15 metres, in line with national advice.
  

Residents can view the full report on the council's website where there are also dedicated web pages about the Island Planning Strategy.

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