The Isle of Wight Council’s draft planning strategy is soon to go through its formal public examination by planning inspectors. The inspectors have published a “Matters, Issues and Questions” document. I was pleased to see questions relating to the allocation to Camp Hill and Noke Common and on the proposed masterplanning approach.

The whole process looks at whether the plan meets national policy requirements and complies with relevant legislation.

These are the questions that I’ve identified in their document:

• Is the site at the Former Camp Hill prison (HA39), identified as Key Priority Site 1 (KPS1), likely to come forward for development within the plan period? Is there a clear timeframe or agreed process for site disposal from the Ministry of Justice?
  
• The site capacity is identified at least 750 homes together with other onsite requirements listed in the proposed Policy KPS1. Is that site capacity justified having regard to environmental factors (for example proximity of the Parkhurst Forest SSSI) and infrastructure capacity (local roads, sewerage etc)?
  
• What contribution would the Camp Hill site make to the housing trajectory in Appendix 4? When is it anticipated to start delivering, at what rate and is that reasonable?
  
• The IPS recognises (paragraph 7.31) that there are other proposed allocations (and sites with planning permission) within the vicinity of the KPS1 site at Camp Hill. The submitted approach is to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document to address these sites (that would also include the St Mary’s Hospital site) to establish a degree of coordination (for example infrastructure planning). Would this be an effective approach?
  
• Would it be necessary for soundness to insert additional content into Policies KPS1 and KPS2 regarding heritage as set out in Core Document 7, following the Statement of Common Ground with Historic England?
  
• Whether the capacity and extent of housing allocation HA036, land at Noke Common, Newport, is justified taking account of the neighbouring woodland designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation?