Seaclose Park houses back on table for Isle of Wight Council

The move has left ward councillor Matthew Price furious.

"I can't believe it's an option again", he said last night (Monday).

The original regeneration plans for Newport Harbour were unveiled over 18 months ago with 40 houses planned for the entrance to the park, off Fairlee Road, and on the existing Fairlee Service Station site.

They sparked a campaign by Cllr Price to throw out the plans, who, at the time, said it would be 'absolutely destructive'.

• Newport harbour plan 'threat to Isle of Wight festival' says councillor
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• Community council 'strongly oppose' Seaclose Park house development

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More than 3,200 people signed his petition and were ultimately successful in getting the authority to do a u-turn.

• Isle of Wight Council u-turn over Seaclose Park building plans
• No houses, but what's next for Newport's Seaclose Park?

SCROLL through the pictures of the area concerned at the top of the page ... 

The rejected plans for housing at Seaclose Park. Picture by the Isle of Wight Council.

Now, the authority has changed its mind again with the newest masterplan coming before cabinet this week.

The new plan still shows housing on 'Seaclose Gate', but the council says the area is under review — with housing on both sides of the entrance, one side or none at all.

Potential options for the site, shown in the bottom left corner. Picture by the Isle of Wight Council.

The switch, the council say, is due to the Covid pandemic, with the Island's housing situation changing, and a wider recognition of the urgent need for housing in the right locations.

A council spokesperson said, following feedback, the authority did not intend to bring back the rejected plans but review potential for more limited housing.

Speaking at last night's Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council meeting, Chris Ashman, the Isle of Wight Council's regeneration director, said the housing was being put back to keep all options open.

However, Cllr Price thought it would be detrimental to the area.

Speaking after the meeting, he said it was outrageous the council would even consider using the park as an option for any kind of development after previous consultations and turning down a welcomed plan to bring football back to the town.

He said: "To suggest things have moved on since then is utterly ridiculous. What hasn't changed is people's opinion for what Seaclose Park should be, which is recreation for every part."

In the whole Newport Harbour project, 200 to 300 new housing units are suggested as well as a hotel, community centre and footbridge over the  Medina.

The proposals are not set in stone, however, with further rounds of consultation and approval needed.