An ‘extremely tired’ and ‘rundown’ former Shanklin hotel, being used as a HMO ‘without consent’, is under investigation by council enforcement officers.
Roseglen, on Palmerston Road, closed in September 2021 and is now partly occupied by a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), according to a Design, Access and Planning Statement from Andrew White Planning Consultancy.
There is not however consent for the HMO and the building’s planning use is currently under investigation by Isle of Wight Council officers, the consultancy said.
“The owners have responded to their (council officers) request for information, including completing a Planning Contravention Notice.
“In response, they have been informed by local planning authority enforcement officers that they must give notice to all the tenants to rectify the breach of planning control regardless that this action will render the tenants homeless.
“In desperation, the owners have turned to both their local councillor and MP for help as well as engaging their own planning consultant.
“They are anxious to regularise the planning situation and discussions with planning officers and indeed the enforcement officers have indicated there is a desire to work with them in this regard. The way forward would now appear to be for the change of use of the property to residential flats.”
Applicants Mr and Mrs Lawrence are asking County Hall for a change of use, including a demolition of the building’s rear 2-storey extension.
The statement says there appears to be a ‘tacit acceptance’ by the council that the property is ‘no longer viable’ as a hotel, with no buyers coming forward despite an ‘extensive’ marketing period.
Roseglen has been a ‘casualty’ of the ‘downturn in hotel accommodation tourism’ and conversion into residential use seems to be the ‘best option’ for the building, it adds.
County Hall’s public consultation on application 25/01611/FUL closes on 5th December and a decision is due on 1st January.
I lived in a hmo years ago,mould and damp everywhere,i called environmental health,they visited,said it needed thousands spent on it,then they discovered it had no licence and was illegal,then owner was told to upgrade the property,so she did the opposite,evicted us all and sold it,and what did thecouncil do,NOTHING she even had her rent from us paid in cash,so got away with paying tax for over twenty years,nothing whatsoever was done.
and she ran a successful b and b round the corner
west wight,freshwater.
Digital ID’s and a cashless society would STOP
such persons evading tax.
Many Tradesmen are the same, cash jobs are not
declared.
It must cost the country billions of pounds in lost
taxes.
I am surprised anyone noticed, the island is slack
when it comes to rules.
They should be shut down,if you give way to illegal operations you Go down a slippery slope, how many more will then join the HMO club.