6 to 10 years

The River Mole Business Park is situated north of Mill Road, adjacent to Sandown Industrial Park to the southwest and the residential area of Joseph Locke Way to the southeast.

This site is considered to have potential for development. Informal discussions have taken place regarding a potential affordable housing scheme and the site is included within the Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment.

Option A – Allocate for development with the potential to deliver up to 30 dwellings

Option B – Allocate for development with the potential to deliver up to 15 Gypsy and Traveller pitches

Option C – Allocate for a mixed use development with the potential to deliver up to 15 dwellings and 15 Gypsy and Traveller pitches

Option D – Do not allocate (as existing)

Despite the site currently being in an employment use there is potential for the site to be redeveloped for housing. It is adjacent to a residential area and any redevelopment should not compromise the neighbouring employment uses and should incorporate suitable access arrangements. Whilst the site has the potential to provide additional B8 floorspace there are on-going concerns regarding the access of this site for Heavy Goods Vehicles through the residential area that limits the market attractiveness of the existing use. Whilst the site is not ideal for employment uses that rely on lorry movement, genuine redundancy of employment use would have to be proven.

 

The Council’s Traveller Accommodation Assessment[1] indicates that there is a need for 37 pitches over the next 15 years. The potential to provide these through intensification on existing sites is extremely limited and new sites must be found. This is considered to be a suitable location for the provision of no more than 15 pitches. It is close to local amenities and infrastructure and the low level nature of development makes a Gypsy and Traveller site an ideal use to adjoin the Green Belt.

 

There is potential to create a more comprehensive phased development with site DEV/ESH11.  Should the sites be delivered separately consideration should be given to ensuring adequate access is in place.

The site was considered at the community workshop as having potential to accommodate a residential development. It was not considered appropriate for Gypsy and Traveller pitches due to access constraints