A contentious Isle of Wight holiday let proposal has been refused due to fears of ‘unacceptable’ noise disturbance and after a community backlash.
Planners threw out Mr M Dos Santos’s application for a change of use of a converted garage to visitor accommodation at Sanbara on Chapel Lane in Merstone, following concerns over impacts on neighbours.
Paul Stack, the applicant’s agent, previously said the proposal involves the introduction of a ‘high-quality’ tourist unit with no identifiable harm to residential amenity.
County Hall’s decision report said there would be noise disturbance due to the proximity of the holiday unit to shared boundaries as well as the increased and continuous flow of people visiting the application site.
Other refusal reasons included a proposed access with ‘insufficient’ visibility and concerns over the plan’s effect on the Solent Special Protection Area.
The report said:
“Officers acknowledge that multiple objections have been received from the residents of neighbouring properties with regard the building which is already being used for holiday purposes.
“Tourism units, tend to result in greater impacts compared to residential properties due to the constant turnover of short-term visitors which can come and go at all hours.”
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Arreton Parish Council was among the plan’s objectors who voiced disquiet over issues including increased traffic and noise disturbance, a lack of parking, there being no need for further holiday lets, and neighbourhood safety.
Paul Stack’s Planning Statement said the scheme does not impact on the character or appearance of the semi-rural area.
It said the access and parking arrangement are of a suitable standard to accommodate the use and its related, ‘limited’ vehicle activity.
Good job too, the trouble with people that think it is a good idea is that they don’t have to live next door to the premises.