A campaign to save a garden cabin in Ventnor has gathered more than 300 supporters after the Isle of Wight Council refused planning permission.
What local artist Jillian Lee hoped would be a dream escape at her Spring Hill home has since turned into a nightmare. She may be forced to take down the cabin that took over 2 years to build.
A retrospective planning application was submitted to the Isle of Wight Council last year to keep the cabin after it was mistakenly thought the work could be done under permitted development rights. However, due to a condition set by the Isle of Wight Council when the former Lynfi Hotel was split into 2 homes, permitted rights were revoked — a fact Jillian says she was not made aware of.
Documents with the retrospective application said Jillian had gone to considerable lengths to ensure the building integrated into its surroundings, using local tradespeople, and, where she could, vintage, reclaimed material from the area.
Jillian researched the site and found the hotel had an outbuilding as late as 2008 and she built the cabin on its footprint.
The point of the cabin, Jillian said, was to create an art studio in a peaceful environment as an escape, not for use as a B&B.
The planning documents argue there was a trend of residents building outbuildings on the hillside of Ventnor, with several in the Spring Hill area.
Officers acknowledged the ‘significant efforts’ made to mitigate the cabin’s impact, through painting the structure to blend in, the installation of a green living roof and the planting scheme.
However, they concluded it was still a noticeable structure in an elevated position that appears ‘incongruous, imposing and harmful’ within the wider Spring Hill street scene and refused the retention of the cabin on the basis it failed to preserve or enhance the character, context and appearance of the conservation area.
Officers were, however, satisfied it would not result in unacceptable levels of harm to neighbouring properties.
Jillian has said she will be appealing the council’s decision to the Planning Inspectorate and is gathering local support to help her case, but the ordeal has made her ill and she has ‘genuinely thought about moving’.
I’m afraid my experience of the planning department over the last 50 years is that they wouldn’t recognise anything attributing to an attractive addition to the town due to their lack of taste and imagination. Build something out of those disgusting simulated island stone blocks and hey ho it’ll get approved. They are qualified ignoramuses and unfortunately you can’t buy taste, you’ve either got it or you ain’t.
Get an online petition started as well probably wouldn’t hurt?
Not going to be used as a B&B, Yes it is. Everyone knows it is, so stop to pull the wool over our eyes. Just take it down like you should, or maybe move it and turn it into a garage for your BMW.
As for the “ordeal” making the “artist” ill, looked perfectly fine walking around town the other day.
I’m sure this situation has caused some stress to this person, put yourself in their shoes..And if a certain Councillor can build stables without subsequent planning and get away with it..then why shouldn’t this person be allowed to keep this small unopposing structure? One rule for “Them,” another for us.
So much jealousy on this little island.
Not at all, just follow the correct procedure then. Exempt.
It’s not what you know, it is who you know. Nepetism and back handers are commen place on the IW.
It is just hard to prove it.
So to the guy that is noting the car I drive and suggestions on parking and the one watching me walk around town. If you’d paid enough attention you’d see I have sold my BMW after the tyre was slashed. I also have a garage. To the other I suffer from migraines, brought on by stress and fortunately they don’t occur everyday. If you’d like to attack me further, please come and meet me in person, to see who I am, what I’m about, come and see my art. On the BnB front, my house was run for 45+ years as a hotel and was a rated BnB called The Palms when I bought it. I would not have planted so many beautiful plants for an air BnB, or added a stunning antique fireplace, but heho, continue to think the worst of me, when you don’t even know me, yet judge me. I’d be happy to meet you in person, with an open mind.
Just a general observation, it’s the council you need to listen to no-one else.
If this was THAT important, planning permission should have been obtained BEFORE building – simple.
You obviously didn’t read the article as it explains why planning permission wasn’t originally sought.
I didn’t think I needed planning permission as it’s within Permitted Development size restrictions. I was not aware that I had lost my PD rights, when the former hotel was split into 2 and granted permission for the extensions the other side. I was advised to either seek legal action, or to apply retrospectively, which I have done.
Very pretty…..freedom of speech is still a thing right ?
How on earth is that cabin ‘harmful’? Is it likely to flood the Island with another 1,000 cars?
Oh, no, sorry that’s Pennyfeathers.
Yet another example of double standards from IWC.
Perhaps a couple of brown envelopes to certain ‘officers’ might help?
We lived in a house where 12 gardens and homes were totally overlooked by an “artist’s cabin” with verandah. A quick glance at the planning rules should indicate to anybody that advice should be sought. The verandah is a clear breach of the rules. No sympathy in this instance.
Have you seen the other 20 verandahs within 1 mile proximity?. Have a look under the tab raised balconies and walkways on my Facebook group.
Remember that if you are a council member, you can build a giant stable for your horses.
Exactly!!
Now if that had been a stable for a councillor she would have been given permission and indeed told to make it bigger.
The planning department are a bunch of idiots with far too much power.
If she has ‘genuinely thought about moving’ then, patently, the cabin can’t be that important, although I can’t help but wonder who would buy it in the middle of a planning dispute with the possible costs that might involve.
Her ‘thinking of moving’ does make it appear less than genuine and is very disrespectful to her 300 supporters.
I can’t enjoy something that’s caused me so much stress. I’m sure you understand that. I am grateful for all the support.
We live in AONB, and a few years ago we had to get planning permission for a heating oil tank that you couldn’t see from anywhere, unless you were trespassing! Now, just down the road theres an ugly development of ‘pretentious delusions’ properties definitely brown envelopes involved.
Maybe she shouldn’t have played it cheap in the first place?………