A former education centre and hospital building on the Isle of Wight is proposed to be demolished to make way for housing.
Thompson House, on Sandy Lane in Gatcombe, was once an education tuition centre and the base for Isle of Wight Council education staff, as well as part of the Whitecroft Hospital.
However, the building, built in the 1960s, is rapidly falling into disrepair after the council moved out and no one moved in, becoming surplus to requirements.
The Isle of Wight Council is seeking permission to demolish the building and associated buildings to remove the liability they pose in their current state while the future of the site can be considered.
The authority was given £135,000 by the Government last year, in its brownfield land release fund, to free up the Thompson House land for housing. A further 2 sites across the Island – in Lake and Totland – were awarded a further £814,765 to make ready for development.
Across the 3 parcels of land, there is the potential to build around 70 houses but due to tight finances, the authority has been unable to take the projects forward. The sites have recently been marketed by the council as housing opportunities with offers currently being evaluated.
The current premises, the authority says, would require extensive expenditure to repair and modernise.
It is thought if the demolition is approved, work would start in September and be finished by December. As well as the removal of asbestos-containing materials the interiors would be strippped.
Following demolition, the council says the ground will be levelled, covered with soil and seeded with grass.
You can view the plans, 22/01204/11BPA, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 29th July.
The authority recently announced it will be unable to bid for more brownfield land funding due to its lack of planning strategy, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Selling off the ‘family silver’ again. Next complaint from the Council will be that they will have a department in need of accommodation. Ridiculous site for housing development anyway, miles away from any infrastructure on a narrow lane.
so where is the 25mil that was earmarked for housing, why cant the council use some of that to build the 70 houses, ohh it means they dont get a back hander for getting a private company to do it
Lack of planning strategy?? This idiot council has a lack of ANY strategy doesn’t it??
Like all Council’s and governments of all colours, “CORRUPTION” is reality…More and lot’s More will be along soon…
Why not use £5million raised this year from parking fees