AFTER years of back and forth discussions, stalled plans and going back to the drawing board, fresh ideas for a major, 100 house development in Godshill have finally been submitted.

Plans for Lily Cross, on Scotland Farm, were first unveiled by Captiva Homes last October, replacing former plans for a care village.

The site, near Yarborough Close, had been earmarked for some kind of residential development by the Isle of Wight Council since 2018.

The site's planning history dates back nearly 20 years, when a supported living development was first approved in 2004, and renewed in 2011.

Isle of Wight County Press: The former plans for the site. Picture by Captiva Homes.The former plans for the site. Picture by Captiva Homes.

Original plans included a nursing home, 94 extra care cottages and apartments with associated facilities.

Captiva Homes, the developers behind West Acre Park in Ryde, have now taken over the site, proposing two schemes — either 107 houses, split between the open market (70) and affordable units (37) or 102 houses, also split between market housing (66) and affordable properties (36) with a doctor's surgery.

Of the affordable properties, 70 per cent are proposed to be available to rent.

Isle of Wight County Press: The proposed Lily Cross development. Picture by Captiva Homes.The proposed Lily Cross development. Picture by Captiva Homes.

The GP surgery has been included in plans following interest from doctors in Godshill to explore the viability of a new surgery, Captiva says, and would provide a larger, purpose-built facility.

  • You can view the plans HERE.
  • Comments can be submitted until June 21.

In planning documents submitted to the council, the Island-based developers say it is anticipated the scheme will invest more than £22 million into the Island economy while also providing affordable housing and improvements to local roads, footpaths and cycleway connections.

Captiva says it has been very important to retain the village feel of Godshill in the development, with pockets of green space and ensuring the site was not overdeveloped.

Isle of Wight County Press: The proposed Lily Cross development. Picture by Captiva Homes.The proposed Lily Cross development. Picture by Captiva Homes.

BCM planning agents say the phased construction of the site is anticipated to last more than two and a half years, allowing six months for infrastructure work and just over 50 dwellings per year.

A new access point has been added to the plans, created on the corner of Whitwell Road and West Street, in an effort to alleviate pressure on the current singular access point.

Isle of Wight County Press: The proposed Lily Cross development. Picture by Captiva Homes.The proposed Lily Cross development. Picture by Captiva Homes.