LUCCOMBE MANOR PUT FORWARD PLANS FOR MAJOR EXPANSION OWING TO POST-COVID BOOM

Could it be 3rd time lucky for a luxury Isle of Wight hotel’s big expansion plans? Garden Isle Hotels is seeking permission to add more bedrooms to Luccombe Manor in Shanklin to meet the increased demand for local holidays it has seen after the COVID-19 pandemic. A 3-storey extension could be built on 1 of the hotel’s existing extensions and provide 13 new rooms, rejuvenating and revitalising the current rooms. Plans say the accommodation would be of the highest quality. Proposals had previously been submitted in 2019 and 2021 for a similar sized extension, but both sets were refused by the Isle of Wight Council. The latest reason provided by the planning authority for refusal was that the extension would be visually dominant and an intrusive addition to the Victorian part of the hotel because of its position, size, design and external appearance. There have been multiple extensions to the original Victorian building, which overlooks the Bay area and English Channel. Agents on behalf of the hotel, Nova Architectural, said the new proposal put forward is the absolute minimum to make the proposed development financially viable. If the plans are approved, it is said 2 more jobs could be created. You can view the plans, 23/02020/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be made until 22nd December.