RURAL watchdog the CPRE has welcomed the Tories brownfield development plan for Newport.but warned more needs to be done to stop the Island s countryside disappearing under concrete. Last week, the Conservative group on the Isle of Wight Council unveiled a far-reaching scheme for the county town, which could see County Hall demolished and the fire and police stations sold off to make way for a new residential Riverside Quarter, linking to the Newport Harbour plans. While welcoming the use of so-called brownfield land, the CPRE has pointed to what it sees as unreasonable housing targets of 675 houses per year for the Island from government.
What are freeports? The Solent Freeport was announced by Southampton-born Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who had championed the idea. Designed to attract major domestic and international investment, areas given freeport status are said to benefit from a wide package of tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures, streamlined planning processes to boost redevelopment and government support to promote regeneration and innovation. Freeports are a special kind of port where normal tax and customs rules do not apply. They are similar to free zones, or enterprise zones , which are designated areas subject to a broad array of special regulatory requirements, tax breaks and government support.