Ventnor Blog

ONE OF the world’s leading architects has been appointed to become the Isle of Wight’s design champion.

Sir Terry Farrell will initially work for the Island for a year to develop the Eco Island theme, acting as an ambassador for the Island and also to helping to ensure the council’s strategic ambitions are realised.

His appointment is accompanied by a number of other initiatives to make sure development on the Island is high quality, sustainable and co-ordinated.

IW Council leader David Pugh said: “Sir Terry Farrell is particularly known for helping to create vibrant partnerships between the public and private and for a number of successful regeneration schemes.

“We are delighted that he will be continuing this work on the Island. We hear much about the need to be raise aspirations on the Island — Sir Terry Farrell’s appointment should do just that. His work is known throughout the world and his designs all over the UK and the world speak for themselves.

“His vision will be invaluable as we move forward with our Eco Island agenda.”

Sir Terry Farrell said: “I am excited by the IW Council’s ambitions for the Island and I know we can help translate these into a strategic vision that can be implemented over time.

“I am delighted to have been asked to act as the Isle of Wight’s Design Champion in the coming year.

“We have been asked to write a ‘manifesto’ for the Island based on the idea that it becomes the world’s first truly sustainable eco-island. I am very excited by the scale of this aspiration, and I am looking forward greatly to engaging with the Island Community in helping to bring this about.

“I think that there is a real opportunity here to build a worldwide reputation for environmental and ecological innovation. The Isle of Wight has a rich history and its landscape and geology are very special indeed.

“I will be building on these unique qualities to paint a picture which respects its existing identity while providing a clear ‘map’ of the way forward to a sustainable future.”

Sir Terry Farrell’s company is an internationally recognised consultancy with officers in London, Edinburgh and Hong Kong.

The company is renowned for its expertise in architecture, urban design, regeneration and planning with a portfolio of landmark buildings and master plans in cities as diverse as London, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Hong Kong, Beijing and Seoul.

Recent work includes the award-winning Home Office HQ, the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre in north-west London and the Green Building in Manchester. Last year he was appointed Design Champion for Thames Estuary Parklands by the department of Communities and Local Government.

Another initiative under the One Island aim to promote a thriving Island is the use of planning powers to generate sustainable development.

This will be done through the emerging Island Plan that will in phases replace the Unitary Development Plan as the Island’s planning blueprint.

Among intended policies in the document are an overhaul of 106 agreements — to ensure the wider community benefits from larger developments and the promotion of community parish plans to provide a framework for co-ordinated development.

The document is also seeking to insist all major development is built to the level four code of sustainability by the time the plan is launched 2009/2010 and to level five from 2012 and level six from 2016.

Architecture, From the Council