ISLE of Wight councillors want to put the power of planning 'back in the hands of the people' as they move forward with consultation plans.

Residents will be able to comment on the latest draft of the Island Planning Strategy (IPS) after Isle of Wight Council's cabinet members yesterday (Thursday) gave it the green light to go out to consultation.

The document will set out the framework for deciding on planning applications, with policies focusing on the environment, transport and business for the next 15 years (from 2023 to 2038).

Cllr Paul Fuller, cabinet member for planning and housing, said there is a lot of 'good stuff in the strategy, but also some not so good'.

He said: "This is an opportunity to go out to consultation, to talk to residents, parish councils, stakeholders and developers about what they would like to see in their communities.

"At the moment our planning documents are not good and are out of date, giving free rein to the things we do not want to see on the Island.

"Let's put the power back into the hands of the people and get this on the road and consulted to move forward."

The IPS will also help the council fight housing targets set for the Island by government and argue the amounts should be brought down.

In what the council is calling an evidence-based approach, it is proposing 486 houses be built per year for the 15 years of the strategy, instead of the current 700, or potentially 1,100 if the latest government targets are approved.

Cllr Fuller said it was good the number had been suppressed but there was still some way to go.

Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, cabinet member for regeneration, said it is important to have a planning strategy in place as it allows the council to tell people willing to invest in the Island what they want and where we want it.

A 'robust' consultation will start at the end of July and carry on until October 1 and will involve community engagement events for people to get involved and speak to officers about the plans.