20 interested parties have put themselves forward to develop the former Shanklin Spa Hotel site on the Esplanade.
Speaking at the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet meeting on Thursday, Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, regeneration and business development lead, said she was pleased to report the very strong level of interest the council had received in just a few days.
The site, which the authority owns, is listed in the draft Island Planning Strategy as being suitable for sustainable, high quality, predominantly residential development.
It could provide at least 50 properties, in a mix of sizes and affordable housing, public transport and highway improvements as well as contributions towards improvements to the seawall and coastal defences, says the plan.
The site, next to the cliff lift, currently comprises a public car park, closed public toilets and redundant buildings.
According to the council’s regeneration website, called IWight Invest ‘An Isle of Opportunities’, another idea for the beachfront site, could see a ’boutique holiday accommodation that attracts visitors all year long’.
It’s unclear where tourists and locals alike will park in the summer months, as parking is already at a premium.
So they build on a car park…. where will people park then. ???? Stupidity. Affordable housing that’s a joke too.
Yeah bright idea, take away all the parking. Genius council.
Yeah Parking would be a problem with reduced space.. BUT please do something thats attractive for this old eyesore
This is long overdue, it’s been a dump for years
Toilets are never open and the old shops etc have been closed for years.
This is a prime location with excellent Sea views
Why not build a new Hotel and call it The Spa Hotel
With the current pandemic so many people have had staycations
It should do very well.
Also why not build a new Pier
Bring Shanklin back to life like it last was in the 1980’s
They could easily keep the parking. In fact they could double it by having two levels then accommodation on top or parking on the top. It’s 2021 there’s a clever solution to please all here somewhere surly
A practical question presuming work will still be going during next summer will there still be access to lift for disabled
Yea. More b***dy flats. What about an indoor amusement center for holiday makers?