A bid to turn an ‘extremely tired’ former Isle of Wight hotel into 8 flats has won the backing of a county councillor – amid concerns current tenants could be made homeless.
Councillor Michael Beston said Mr and Mrs Lawrence’s change of use application would restore the Roseglen in Shanklin to an ‘appropriate’ status and address its current ‘unlawful’ House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) use.
The change of use application includes a demolition of the hotel’s rear 2 storey extension.
It was previously revealed that council enforcement officers opened a case on the Palmerston Road property due to there not being planning consent for an HMO occupying part of the building.
A County Hall spokesperson said this morning (21st November):
“The property owners have submitted a planning application to address the alleged breach of planning control.
“While this application is under consideration, enforcement action is paused. The next steps will be reviewed once a decision has been issued on the current planning application.”
Cllr Beston, the Conservative representative for Shanklin Central, said:
“The decline in hotel accommodation tourism and the contraction of designated hotel areas as reflected in the emerging Island Plan has left this property unviable in the tourism sector.
“The hotel was unprofitable for its final four years of trading, and only rental income prevented bankruptcy. The applicants have clearly demonstrated that the building cannot be repositioned as a viable hotel.
“The owners wish to formalise the property’s planning status and converting it into entry-level flats seems to be the best solution.
“This would not only restore the building to an appropriate and compatible use but also address the current issue of unlawful HMO use.”
The hotel closed in 2021 September, according to a Design, Access and Planning Statement submitted by the Andrew White Planning Consultancy.
The consultancy said the current owners have responded to a request for information from council officers, including completing a Planning Contravention Notice.
Its statement said:
“The owners have been informed by 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.”
The Isle of Wight Council’s public consultation on proposal 25/01611/FUL ends on 5th December and a decision is due on 1st January.
Local councillors seem to back anything.
apart from a reduction in their salaries, expense claims and perks