An Isle of Wight village may once again have a convenience store, after its previous shop closed 3 years ago.
Plans have been lodged with the Isle of Wight Council to build a convenience store and 7 homes off Town Lane in Chale — just down the road from the former Chale Green Stores.
The once much-loved village shop was unviable according to its owner Vern Tyerman, and its closure also saw the removal of the Post Office from the parish. The former village store is in the process of being turned into houses.
Now, a new proposal, submitted by Rachel Peyton, could see ‘Chale Convenience’ built, serving the needs of the rural community, planning documents say, by providing a highly desired service.
On behalf of Ms Peyton, a planning statement by Nova Architectural said the closest shop to Chale is in Brighstone, nearly 5 miles away, and only accessible via vehicle, so there is an identified local need for one.
The paddock site at the moment, sitting behind Town Lane, is said to be a moderately unmanaged grassland parcel, becoming invaded by bramble and scrub.
As part of the development, 7 bungalows and houses could be built. They would range from 2 to 4 beds.
Taking into account existing neighbouring properties, the planning agents say the scheme is designed with bungalows at the centre of the plot, with 2-storey dwellings on either side to prevent any overlooking.
You can view the plans, 22/01121/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be made until 12th August.
One supportive comment has so far been left on the application saying they were pleased to see the store plans. They said:
“For too long now, the less fortunate and elderly residents of Chale have been cut off from essential reliable local services without having to rely on public transport.”
A red Herring. Promise the shop as a sweetner, build the houses, and then build a shop with design to easily turn back into a house, when after three months of pilfering it goes bust.
See it how it is.
Quite.
Most of the new homes will be holiday let’s and 2nd homes, making the shop completely unviable.
Village shops need customers 52 weeks of the year to survive, the 20-odd weeks of the summer season just won’t cut it.
So the original shop, already fitted out and complete with a cafe and parking, was no longer viable so had to be converted to houses, but a new ‘shop’ built as a sweetener in among a load more new houses, will be viable? why not go the whole hog and do the usual by promising to build a staff free doctors surgery, that seems to work everywhere else