FRESHWATER residents have expressed alarm over a proposed mixed use development including 69 housing units.

Stephen Hucklesby's Heathfield Farm Camp Site application also proposes retail floorspace, road infrastructure and parking facilities.

Bordered by Healthfield Road and the A3054 Colwell Road, the site occupies a total area of around 47,222 square metres and includes a mix of greenfield and brownfield land, according to the application's Design and Access statement.

The document claims a minimum 35 per cent of the proposed housing units will be affordable, to comply with local planning policy.

In objecting comments residents have flagged increased traffic and pollution in the area, pressure on public services and infrastructure, and environmental degradation.

Robert Copeland commented: "The village can't cope with the extra load put on it by the housing development, in terms of more residents requiring services, such as the doctor, dentist and shopping, plus the extra traffic it will generate."

Tommy King wrote: "With constant roadworks and traffic lights in Heathfield Road already I am really concerned about any new development that will cause noise and disruption over a considerable period of time and the impact this building work will cause to the other residents in Heathfield Road, most of whom are elderly.

"I am also concerned about the environmental impact, this green belt area of woods/fields affected have nesting birds, red squirrels etc and this will be completely destroyed by this planning application."

The proposal also attracted criticism from further afield.

A "regular patron" of the camp site, Graham Hall from Ryde, said it was the "jewel in the crown" for Freshwater camping.

He commented: "This proposed development, once again, represents how our beautiful countryside and local green spaces are being destroyed for additional housing and more importantly, huge financial gain for the landowner and developer."

Island Roads lodged an objection with planning case officer Russell Chick concluding the application submitted "insufficient information" regarding proposed development traffic.

As noted in the Design and Access statement, the Heathfield Farm Camp Site is a site allocated for housing in the Isle of Wight Council's Island Planning Strategy.

The strategy is a plan for development over the next 15 years and is being prepared with the help of Island community consultation.

The council published its 'submission version' of the strategy in July which can be commented on until midnight on August 19.