The Isle of Wight Council has secured nearly half a million pounds to transform three brownfield sites into prime housing locations. This funding, amounting to £426,000, was awarded in the second phase of the Brownfield Land Release Fund, marking the council’s continued success after its triumph in the initial round.

Despite initial concerns over potentially missing out on the funding due to outdated planning policies, the council has managed to clinch a portion of the £180 million government grant. This grant has been distributed to 100 noteworthy projects nationwide.

The earmarked sites for this development are located on Medina Avenue and New Street in Newport, and Lowtherville in Ventnor. These sites, once prepped for housing, will be up for grabs for developers eager to construct new properties.

Councillor Ian Stephens, the deputy leader of the council and the Cabinet member for Housing and Finance, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The Isle of Wight Council remains steadfast in its mission to prioritize affordable housing opportunities on the Island. This successful bid is a testament to our commitment.”

Brownfield lands, previously developed areas, are the government’s top choice for construction, preserving greenfields from further development. However, these lands often require additional investments to make them suitable for redevelopment. The Brownfield fund was established to aid local councils in swiftly transforming these sites into prime real estate opportunities.

In the fund’s inaugural round, the council received a whopping £950,000, which was utilized to prepare sites like Berry Hill in Lake, the erstwhile Weston Academy in Totland, and Thompson House on Sandy Lane in Gatcombe for residential purposes. Notably, Thompson House has been recently razed, and Berry Hill’s site has been acquired by developers.