Build a Better Bembridge (BBB) is a non-profit community interest group of village residents with a vision to support sustainable development around Bembridge and East Wight and in doing so protect the local environment and our community.
In partnership with Bembridge Parish Council we have been fighting these proposed developments for nearly three years. To date we have had some real success generating over 800 objections on the council planning site. We have also commissioned independent reports from specialists like Fernbrook Engineering and Paul Basham Associates, and along with legal support, we have been constructively challenging the council planning dept. This has resulted in the planning approval meeting being postponed twice due to BBB submitting new evidence. We have also gained support from Natural England, CPRE, Surfers Against Sewage and other action groups.
To date we have spent nearly £20,000, donated very kindly by private individuals, but now we need to seek help from the Bembridge community to keep funding our campaign. Any help you can give would be very much appreciated. We will spend these funds on further legal support, advice from environmental and community specialists and lobbying councillors and the planning department.
At BBB we completely support sustainable development and fully support the need for affordable housing in the village.
However, we do not believe what is proposed by the developer as sustainable, why?
LEGAL: The Bembridge Neighbourhood Development Plan recognises that some development is inevitable but that it should be small-scale, tailored to identified needs and ideally on existing sites within the village, NOT greenfield. If passed this application would undermine the principle of plan led development.
LANDSCAPE: The proposed housing estate is incompatible with the community landscape – The application site is an attractive green open space which acts as a transition between the built-up settlement of Bembridge and the undeveloped open countryside which makes up the remainder of the parish.
FLOODING & DRAINAGE: Bembridge has suffered major flooding issues recently. The Section 19 Flood Report commissioned by the IOW Council in 2022 identified this very area as prone to flooding. Large scale development would significantly exacerbate this the situation.
ENVIRONMENT: We have 5 of the top 10 most polluting sewage outfalls in the South East of England - due to flooding issues the Lane End outfall discharges sewage yards from the beach directly into the “specially protected” marine conservation zone. The equivalent of 251 Olympic swimming pools of sewage is being released in a year, even before the flow is massively increased by large scale development.
CONGESTION: An additional 180 houses, with 6 vehicle movements per day, will generate 1,080 extra daily car movements in our already congested village. Bembridge is a remote village on a peninsula served by only two minor roads.
NEED: There is a need for housing in Bembridge. This need is for GENUINELY affordable homes for local people earning Isle of Wight wages. Not for more luxury homes. The smallest proposed property has Rightmove evidence of being marketed at over £625K.
Thanks again for your time and we really hope you can support us.