Isle of Wight protest over Bembridge Middleton housing plan

Banners were held aloft and shouts of 'no more building' and 'save our village' echoed around Steyne Park.

Just down the road, lies a greenfield site earmarked for Captiva Homes' Middleton - a 130 home development, previously described as one of the biggest the village has ever seen.

The location, on land off the corner of Mill Road and the High Street, was identified as suitable for housing by the Isle of Wight Council in 2018.

Read more: Details revealed for major housing scheme on Bembridge greenfield plot

Captiva believes if the land is to be developed, it should be done by an Island housebuilder such as itself.

Concerned residents hold up signs (Image: IWCP)

Lady Grylls (Image: IWCP)

High profile names including Lady Sally Grylls, mother of Bear Grylls, were among those who turned out in protest of the scheme.

Lady Grylls, who has lived in the village for over 50 years, told the County Press:  "In that time I have seen an increase dramatically in the volume of traffic and it's just totally inappropriate to be building more and more expensive houses on green fields."

Meanwhile, TV actor and comedian Marek Larwood, who lives in Bembridge and grew up and went to school on the Island, said: "Bembridge would no longer be a village.

"It makes me feel really depressed because once it's gone, it's gone forever."

TV actor and comedian Marek Larwood (Image: IWCP)

Martin Woodward addressing residents (Image: IWCP)

Resident and professional diver, Martin Woodward, who is part of campaign group Build a Better Bembridge, said flooding and traffic were among his main concerns.

He also claims housing would not be 'affordable', as advertised. 

"The council should be on the side of the community, not the developers", he said", he said.

As part of a separate development, 56 homes are currently being built on the corner of Steyne Road and Hillway Road and Martin fears adding even more properties would "destroy Bembridge".

"It hasn't got the infrastructure to take it", he said, arguing that more people would put already-stretched GP surgeries under more pressure.

He also said that proposals contravene the Bembridge Neighbourhood Development Plan (BNDP).

Created in 2014, the BNDP recognises some development in the village is inevitable but that it should be of 'small scale' and ideally not on greenfield land.

The current site in Bembridge where Middleton could be built. (Image: IWCP)

Captiva director James Pink has previously told the County Press that flooding and highways were very much 'top of the list' and measures would be put in place to mitigate any problems.

In terms of affordability, he said 46 houses would be in the affordable bracket and 70 per cent of those rented.

The County Press has contacted Captiva for comment.

Build a Better Bembridge says plans for Middleton are set to go before the council's planning committee on July 30.