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Council Opens Enforcement Case In Response To Developer's "Alleged Breach Of Planning Controls"

An enforcement case has opened in response to a developer’s “alleged breach of planning controls” in a large Isle of Wight village, the council has revealed.

After Journey Estates Ltd brought machinery into Freshwater’s Birch Close last month, County Hall said it is “likely” that the landowner “undertook a material commencement on the site in an attempt to preserve their permission, even though not all the conditions have been discharged”.

Journey Estates was granted planning permission to build 44 houses on land to the east of Birch Close in 2022, subject to conditions.

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:

“Less than 24 hours after receiving a report of an alleged breach of planning controls taking place at Birch Close, Colwell, the local planning authority had visited the site and as a result a planning enforcement case was opened.

“The site, surrounded by housing on three sides, has planning permission for new homes – including 16 affordable homes. It is also a proposed allocation for new homes in the council’s emerging Island Planning Strategy.

“However, there are a number of conditions of the planning permission that should be met before the development starts.

“Not all of these pre-commencement conditions have been met, so any commencement on the site would be unauthorised.

“The planning permission was granted in 2022, and it is likely that the landowner undertook a material commencement on the site in an attempt to preserve their permission, even though not all the conditions have been discharged.”

County Hall’s opening of an enforcement case comes after an outcry from county councillors Chris Jarman and Peter Spink, together with Freshwater residents.

Previous attempts have been made to contact Journey Estates for comment.

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