The role of the Regeneration Service is to deliver the objectives of the Sustainable Community Strategy through sustainable economic development whilst reducing the Island’s carbon footprint and maintaining and enhancing the natural and built environment. This includes the coordination and promotion of the principles of sustainability, including the delivery of Eco Island across the Council and partner organisations. The Service is also responsible for the strategic development of tourism on the Island.
A fundamental element of the Service’s work will be the introduction and implementation of the Island’s Economic Strategy. This document has been developed over years of partnership working, and it provides a framework for the economic sustainability of the Isle of Wight. This is crucial to the success of Eco Island.
This service’s successes will be the key building block successes of Eco Island itself. A Carbon Management Strategy for the Council will be a major step forward; this will then be available to partners, so that carbon emissions and resource use can be reduced in a co-ordinated way. The successful introduction of several regeneration projects in the coming years will deliver Eco Island in a range of ways: a refurbished town centre in Ryde, using Heritage Lottery Fund grants; inward investment in disadvantaged areas of the Island, bringing sustainable jobs and increased economic activity; and green tourism initiatives to encourage and reward Island producers and entrepreneurs for adopting environmentally-sustainable products and business practices.
This service area will be a key focus of the Council’s practical implementation of Eco Island. The Council will start to work to monitor the Island’s emissions in 2008/2009 and the Regeneration Service will be co-ordinating the Council’s response to the reduction of landfill waste, and the increased use of energy-efficiency as a means to reduce costs and emissions at the same time
This service aims to deliver an excellent, customer focussed Planning Service, worthy of the natural, built, and historic environment whilst promoting the social and economic well being of the Isle of Wight. Through the Local Development Framework and the forthcoming Island Plan, this service will be crucial to the successful implementation of Eco Island. This is because its development and implementation of new planning policy will encourage sustainable development, with an emphasis on clean, “green” businesses and energy-efficient dwellings. This service is also home to the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty team, in conjunction with Natural England. Therefore, this service area will also oversee a range of projects, testing sustainable living in AONB areas, and an increased emphasis on planning applications and Parish and Town Council plans being developed in co-operation with the AONB team.
If you would like to comment on Eco Island or would like more information, please email info@eco-island.org.uk or visit the Eco Island contacts page.
