The Isle of Wight Council has completed the purchase of Venture Quays in East Cowes, securing the future of one of the Island’s most iconic buildings and kick-starting the redevelopment of the area.
The £1.3 million acquisition follows many months of negotiations with Homes England and a Cabinet commitment to purchase the land which includes the historic Columbine site — famous for its huge Union flag doors.
Councillor Wayne Whittle, Cabinet member for regeneration and business development, said:
“This fulfils our commitment to acquire this important asset and will enable us to take forward our plans that support both East Cowes and the wider Island community.
“At a time when we know the Island economy is under pressure, affecting homes and jobs, I am pleased we can now announce this good news.
“It also allows us to progress development of housing for the community in the area and more information on this will follow on this shortly.”
Investing in the prime waterfront site — with its crucial deep water access — will preserve key employment land for the benefit of the Island’s workforce for many years to come.
Council leader Dave Stewart said:
“The purchase of the Venture Quays sites was a flagship investment opportunity highlighted by Boris Johnson when he visited the Island in 2019.
“Despite the clear economic challenges presented by the pandemic, acquiring these sites will protect Island jobs and preserve marine engineering in this location, as well as provide land for housing on a brownfield site.
“This ambitious project is an excellent example of how the council is helping our economy to recover from the ravages of coronavirus and supporting local business.”
Some good news for once .Well done Mr whittle .top bloke .
Most popular choice I see dan, he MUST be related or are you having a joke?
Maybe you like the feel of ‘cash’ too?
A most unpopular Cllr by the look of things. Now I wonder why?
Can only hope those who thumb down vote next time around.
JJ,
To be in charge of huge amounts of public money one needs to be 100% squeaky clean in all business affairs or risk lack of trust elsewhere. NOT saying that this is or isn’t the case here at all, but mud sticks and our Isle is a small close knit business community.
Most know a Leopard doesn’t change it’s spots, and the spots usually get ‘larger’ as the beast, now assuming it is invincible. become bloated with rich, easy pickings.
Many then would prefer a creature without any tarnish, deserved or otherwise attached, just in case there is no smoke etc, is all I can imagine.
You bunch of lefty morons .voting me down .
Well at least they will have somewhere to store the Floating Bridge
““It also allows us to progress development of housing for the community in the area”
Now that wouldn’t be the Pinks developing such, by sheer coincidence, would it, or does the pillar of our society have other very generous and thankful in mind?
Name the person or persons your are referring to you insipid individual.
Ha! The noble and sagacious ‘Gungadin’ doesn’t know something. Well, dear sir, if you’d stuck around you might well know who he’s on about. Touching you still miss us all, as Islanders’ affairs seem to mean so much to you in whatever paradise you left us for, matey. Regards, Lady Longdown.
Another lunatic, are you out for the weekend or have you reincarnated yourself but with only half your names.
Housing development in the community? So basically loads of posh waterfront dwellings for the overners. What a load of rubbish
People can’t win. Build in Ryde it is supposedly 900 houses for DWP outcasts build in Cowes its posh apartments for overners? What do you ridiculous people want!? Last time I looked the island was funded by tax that was paid into the government by UK citizens, after all the island is part of the UK and UK citizens can live where they want.
@the truth – we want neither – benefit hutches in ryde or luxury apartments – it amounts to the same thing – more people,more rubbish, more pollution, more cars.
This is supposed to be an area for business, not more damned housing.
Tough! You’re going to have to get used to more people more traffic and more housing. This is a multicultural country and you can no longer dictate where people can and can’t live. The population of this country has exploded due to many different reasons. Housing is needed and sadly for you and your kind the island has plenty of open space for everyone to have a home. About time too. I’m glad the council and construction companies are now going ahead with so many building projects to house those who need it.
Let’s hope you don’t live here then – you talk an absolute load of rubbish. Yes we all know anyone can live where they like – but it is the likes of you that move in somewhere and want to change it all because you don’t like it.
There aren’t that many people here who actually require housing – it will be the down and outs from the cities who want to live somewhere nice, not work, don’t want to work and contribute nothing.
There is a massive need for housing and thank god the council have finally seen sense to give the go ahead for the builds currently under construction. I do live here have done for 26 years (from South London) people like me will change the island because we do want it changed from some backwater with closed thinking to a forward thinking island for everyone regardless of social standing age gender race religion and or sexuality.
So why did you move from south London 26 years ago. Was it because the Island was a better place to live then. Or were you hoping that It would become as overcrowded in time to come. Doesn’t make sense.
I moved here to look after my elderly mother, not that its any of you business!
Very admirable to move here to be with your mum. Shame that you’re like quite a few mainlanders that try to change the island way of life. I’ve been here from the mainland for over 40 years and would never go back to live. Love the island and islanders. God bless your mum and may she have many years left in her.
Only 40 years, Soon you can be classed as a local, but you will Always be nearly 10 Years behind me.
Keep it unique !
Pardon me, but you just made it everybody’s business.. You are too open, I’ll informed, highly likely to rant in an impolite manner, and, quite frankly not local. Not a lot going for your arguments, sir. Our sympathy for your sick mother, but if she is now better, or dare I say it otherwise not in any more need of assistance, then go home if you hate us all so much. Respectfully your’s, Lady Longdown.
There’s nothing respectful about you.
You should move back to that toilet you call London, it’s all their everything you crave for, so please don’t let anyone keep you here…
What is clear is that older islanders can’t take change. I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, I am in the middle of getting a investment group together to buy properties for rent strictly to help war torn refugees get back on their feet for a new start. Hopefully we will also get charity status so we can apply for government funding and a grant from the national lottery. So I hope you will give your new neighbours a friendly welcome when they get here. Is that clear?
I had you slightly wrong, sir! Apologies… Actually wetting m’self now. Bravo, top answer. Tee hee. Government funding, indeed….
Are you talking to yourself?
The truth – the island doesn’t have plenty of open space – if you want a crowded metropolis – then clear off to a city.
This is called the garden isle for good reason.
Culture has got nothing to do with it – it is pure numbers and unwanted pollution – clear off somewhere else if you do not like the fact that we intend to preserve the natural habitats on this island, whether you like it or not.
Where are all these people going to work????
Perhaps we should let the Island become an independent nation……?
I’m aware that many islanders disliked the principle of free movement across the EU, that’s why many they voted in favour of leaving the EU. Now the born and breds also dislike free movement across the UK. Maybe we will soon get a petition to leave the UK – with or without a trade deal
Not so strapped for cash as they like us too think and keep whining on about huh.
Jim, if as suspected by many here, there is major corruption where planning and development is concerned on the Island, then, clearly, large scale developments such as p.f, or very expensive waterside developments, such as this, will be ‘the’ most lucrative and easy to skim, for the planner/developer symbiotic relationship.
As we see on here though, suspecting, or even knowing such is likely going on, is a different from being able to prove or stop such.
Voting out the ‘unpopular; suspects is our only means left, and ‘hope’ the next batch are more for the Island and it’s entire populace rather than themselves, their own private concerns and a few close ‘friends.’
I have no proof of anything, but:
Remember the permanent Council employees. I suspect them to be the major contributors to Council corruption.
Should the honest and well intentioned ever be permitted into the Council, I imagine that they will seriously struggle against an established current of corruption… 🙁
Its great isn’t it…?
Good news for Columbine, now hold onto it. Pity about the housing, not needed.
Not needed or wanted in Ryde but it won’t stop them!!
It is needed, just because you have a nice warm home doesn’t mean everyone else has.
Wont be long now, the apartments behind this building,with balconies I may add, will have a lovely view. Another part of history gone!
where can I buy one?
May be a good thing .. maybe not.
The council have a long history of buggering things up.. wait and see..
They have no money yet can afford to buy Venture Quays. Well now we know why they have increased parking charges and extended the hours that you have to pay. And don’t forget the extra areas you will have to pay to park. Absolutely criminal
“This fulfils our commitment to acquire this important asset and will enable us to take forward our plans that support both East Cowes and the wider Island community”.
IWC speak for “we are now acting as inexperienced property speculators with your money but have formed a lucrative partnership with property developers so we ourselves will OK”
More bloody houses for mainlanders then, as usual the corrupt council have their priorities completely wrong yet again.
How many houses for island people that need them? Why not build houses for the two thousand families waiting for a home on the island? When the brown envelopes are given out, try to have a thought for the people that should be housed…
Perhaps you should turn that stupid chain ferry into a house boat and shuv it in Portsmouth Harbour so your selfish mates can have parties on it..
Island echo picking and choosing which comments to post. Very north Korea.
The echo are part of the thought police, no different from the mainstream media…
Six months time it’ll be sold to a mate of theirs for half the price.
And i thought the council were broke, I for one will have trouble paying the council tax now what will it be next year ?if it is too high then culver cliff will have a visit from me and that is serious.
With our money i presume?
Brown envelopes aplenty
And this is the council who cannot afford to help local businesses by making parking free over the winter.
“At a time when we know the Island economy is under pressure, affecting homes and jobs, I am pleased we can now announce this good news. And now the bad news, we are going to abolish free parking over the winter to help (not) local businesses.