A NEW 'dark skies' park for the Isle of Wight is just one of the ideas that is being floated in the proposed Island Planning Strategy which is set to shape how the Island will look up to 2035.

A public consultation on the draft strategy has been extended to Monday, February 25 so there is still time to give your views on proposals which could also see 641 new homes built here per year for the next 16 years.

The draft plan sets out the proposed approach towards housing, employment, transport, commercial and leisure land use on the Isle of Wight in the future.

The strategy can be seen in full at https://www.iow.gov.uk/IslandPlanningStrategy along with the consultation link and background information.

People can visit 30 High Street, Newport every Tuesday up until February 19 between 10am and 3pm and a member of the planning team will be on hand for residents and businesses who can find out more about what it could mean for them and view a hard copy of the strategy.

Paper copies of the plan, along with consultation documents will be available to view at the planning office at Seaclose and County Hall Reception, Newport and the Island’s libraries, during opening hours.

Cllr Barry Abraham, Cabinet member for Planning and Housing, said: "The draft plan sets out local planning policy up to 2035 and identifies how land is used, determining what will be built where, so it’s really important that Islanders give their views on the draft plan and how their community develops.

“The consultation responses will help officers finalise a plan that complies with national requirements and reflects, as far as possible, the views of the Islands’ communities. We must make sure the plan is current and relevant to the short and long-term future and reflects the needs of people living on the Island. It’s important because the plan will be the starting point for assessing the merits of individual planning applications.”

Once the consultation is completed the plan will then be considered by an independent Government planning inspector at a public planning inquiry, which is expected will take place later this year. The inspector will consider any comments made as part of the consultation as well as take representations at the hearing.

In the interests of sustainability, any comments on the documents should be made via the online portal or by email to policy.consultation@iow.gov.uk .

Alternatively, postal comments can be sent Planning Policy, Seaclose Office, Fairlee Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2QS.