A former Sandown restaurant could become a holiday flat after an 18-month hunt failed to find a new business tenant.
The Surfside Diner fronts both Sandown Esplanade and the High Street, and sits next to the derelict Esplanade Hotel, but has been closed since last October.
Property owner, Michelle Shallice, has tried to market the property for more than 18 months but failed to find a new tenant or owner, despite price reductions. They are now asking the Isle of Wight Council for permission to turn the building into a three-bedroom holiday flat.
Andrew White Planning Consultancy, acting on behalf of Ms Shallice, said three operators had tried varied approaches to making the restaurant viable but without any success. Previous tenants said there was a lack of footfall and the derelict neighbouring properties have had a negative impact.
The planning agents said the restaurant now stands empty, having a negative impact on the character of the area.
The conversion of the property would bring trade to the town and help support other local businesses like The Reef next door. No changes would be made to the exterior of the property, taking full account of the special character of the conservation area.
Floors above the restaurant are already residential and holiday units.
You can view the plans, 22/01387/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 21st October.
Sandown Town Council supports the plans so long as the property remains in tourism-related use. However, 1 objection has been submitted saying to grant planning permission would only ‘destroy Sandown more’.
I like the idea of holiday flats right on the beach…but surely the town needs modernising or making more appealing first?
Unknown who would want to rent it, when the area is a dump.. I would be afraid of burglars, druggies and other unwanted people around..
Until something major is done with the eyesore derelict hotels, Sandown can NEVER improve. No-one with more than one brain cell will invest their money in that dump.
As a frequent visitor the beauty and attraction of towns like Sandown is that they are not very modern and remain unspoiled. It would be a shame to ruin what is special to the Isle of Wight.
Good luck with that. Just look how the council turned down that Lloyds Bank building. What planning boils down to on this island is who you know.
Very very well said