Plans have been submitted to change a controversial building in Bembridge — moving on from its chequered history — to include a flat.
John Midgley, the new owner of 5-7 High Street, Bembridge, has put forward plans to the Isle of Wight Council to change the internal layout of the building — but the much-loved fishmongers, Captain Stan’s, will stay.
Having signed a new 10-year lease with the property’s previous owner Bembridge Parish Council (BPC) in January 2019, Captain Stan’s secured its future on the High Street, with Mr Midgley confirming the shop will remain.
Posting on the Open Bembridge Facebook group, Mr Midgely said he was pleased to be the new owner of the iconic Bembridge property. He said:
“I am looking to get initially some maintenance done, including repointing and [replacing the] windows — both in keeping with the property.
“Later, I intend to enhance the property and make better use of the grounds, possibly to include units or workshops.
“Of important note, is the fishmongers will stay! It is early days so would welcome some ideas.”
BPC agreed the property would be sold in May 2018 — using the money to repair and build other assets. However, the decision divided the village, with results from a poll showing almost two-thirds of residents who casted a vote did not want the property to be sold.
After a year of ups and downs, including a potential judicial review into the conduct of BPC and the property withdrawn from market and then put back on, it sold at a Clive Emson auction in September 2019 for £185,000.
Now, layout plans show the former BPC offices on the first floor will be transformed into a 2-bedroom flat, with Captain Stan’s being internally extended to allow more retail floor space.
The currently closed public conveniences will also open — however, the 3 male and 3 female toilets will be downsized to 1 disabled access, including baby changing facilities, and 1 unisex toilet to allow for the internal extension.
Externally, the property could be decorated and given new double-glazed windows.
In a design and access statement, developers say the work will give the building a much-needed overhaul and a new lease of life. It said:
“It is hoped the proposal is not seen as being controversial – it is expanding an existing retail unit, providing a community facility with the public toilets and making use of an empty office to create a two-bedroomed flat in an extremely sustainable part of the Island.”
During the coronavirus lockdown, no site notices will be put up by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning officers — instead neighbours will be contacted and planning applications advertised in the local press.
Comments on the planning application (20/00582/FUL) can be made online or via email to the planning team within 21 days from when the application will be advertised. In this case, the application will be advertised from 24th April.
A lovely old building, and I am pleased the Bembridge Parish council gave the Fish shop a ten year lease to secure their business as they have worked hard to grow it.
Always had hoped that Mike and Ruth could have made a lovely fish restaurant having a large rear garden which could have been very attractive with a lot of work if the old w.c’s were made into a huge glass eating area overlooking a el fresco pretty garden for the nicer weather. to increase the eating area.
Basic fish and chips could have been supplied from one of the side passages too.
Yet as it is, just as well perhaps that never happened what with CV ruining any future investment for the foreseeable.
Sad if the old army Nissan hut and bomb shelter go, as these are now rare to find, but realise life moves on.
All sounds very fishy to me…..
Nice to see someone with vision rather than just years of neglect now turning this iconic building around.
But unclear of who is going to pay to have this toilet cleaned and maintained?
As the Parish has one little tiny box w.c already in this street, almost opposite this building. Will they fund this one too. If not who will, or is it a pay as you go type?
Will be great to have more than just that one tiny cubicle though as unpleasant having to queue and to enter and breath in the putrid foul air and sit upon a pre warmed seat from another persons less than pleasant business results.
This building has a very interesting history for many years it was the local fire station before it moved to Walls Road when the then footpath was turned into Walls Road and all the houses and new Middle School was built, the fire station became an opticians
Christopher, apparently there were two Nissan huts, the other I believe being in the now garden of Fox’s.
The Nissan hut behind Stan’s was used by the Parish Clerk as an office for some years, and later for the village lengthsman for storage of equipment and working on projects, although for years one entire half was rented out to the amateur dramatics group for storage of their props etc.
Always seems a loss to me the modernisation of village life, as although we are told it is for the best it rarely seems that way.
Those large old Edwardian glazed brick w.c’s were large, 3 individual cubicles in each I understand, along with a massive urinal in the gents. All were airy and easy to maintain with a hose down without causing damage. If one w.c was out of action then there were others to use along with the water saving urinal. Modern painted shoe box w.c ‘s are, as someone said, airless and unpleasant.
It certainly makes one think in that if the UK is supposed to be the fifth wealthiest nation in the world, then to have to sell off toilets that have managed to be kept open throughout war time austerity then God help those counties allegedly poorer than us.
One had hoped Bembridge was better than that.
Before the optician the library was housed in this building after which it was relocated to its present site the old school building.
No site notices because of Coronavirus!??
What kind of lame excuse is that? Zip-tying a couple of notices to a lamp post is hardly a high risk exercise is it?
The IWC are using the Corona thing as an excuse to do even less work than ever. IWC Planning department is a disgrace these days. The new (no doubt VERY expensive) online Planning Portal is utter rubbish; deadline dates are meaningless and no-one ever takes responsibility for anything if you are stupid enough to ring them.
If you now cannot do the most basic (legally required) parts of your duties, then close the whole department until you can.