The Isle of Wight Council has submitted its Island Planning Strategy (IPS) to the government, with public examination hearings expected in early 2025.

The council has processed and reviewed over 700 comments, before submitting them alongside the plan and entire evidence base to the Secretary of State.

An Independent Planning Inspector will be appointed to carry out an examination in public, anticipated to be in early 2025.

The IPS seeks to build 453 new homes on the Island per year until 2037, significantly lower than the government's target of 1,104 homes.

Cllr Paul Fuller, cabinet member for planning, coastal protection and flooding said: “I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the consultation.

"Work on this new local plan started over seven years ago and adopting the new policies in the IPS will allow the council to use a wide range of ‘new policy tools’ when making planning decisions.

"We look forward to hearing back from the Planning Inspectorate and moving into examination hearing sessions as soon as possible.”

The council agreed on its own planning strategy in May after multiple setbacks and delays, but the General Election meant that the plan could not be submitted to the Secretary of State at the time.

The new Labour government later announced that councils would be given mandatory targets as it aims to construct 370,000 new homes each year.

Following publication of the government's new figures, there were fears the number of new homes built here could increase dramatically.

Council leader, Phil Jordan said this "could have been avoided" had plans been approved earlier.

He said: "I do hope I can make a strong case for the lower housing number and our current Island Plan to be accepted by the government."

"I would add that I am disappointed that certain members of the council have worked to prevent our Island plan from being submitted over the past three years and we now can see the outcome of those actions."