Isle of Wight Council’s draft planning strategy – its proposed Local Plan – is now out for statutory public consultation till midnight on Monday, 19 August 2024.

The ‘Regulation 19’ consultation can be filled out online. Alternatively a form can be downloaded from that page and then emailed to the council.

Both the planning strategy document and the comments form are also available from the council’s Seaclose planning offices and from Lord Louis and Cowes libraries (and others across the Island).

The comments received will be submitted to the Secretary of State together with the strategy and its evidence base. An independent planning inspector will then carry out a review and formal ‘public examination’ of the Plan.

The consultation is technical with comments to be made on whether or not the plan is legally compliant, sound, and complies with what is known as the duty to co-operate. Any suggestions for changes can also be made with evidence for them. Some questions are mandatory and the council stresses that comments that don’t answer these cannot be sent to the Secretary of State.

Although the new government has indicated changes to planning policy, including housing numbers, the council believes that it is still important to continue towards having a new local plan.