2 luxury villas could be built on the site of a dilapidated building overlooking Cowes Esplanade, should plans be approved.
Hamlet Court Regeneration has lodged plans with the Isle of Wight Council following years of talks, to demolish the unlisted building fronting Queens Road. 2x 4-bedroom houses could replace the current Hamlet Court which was split into flats in the 1950s and saw the installation of 2 concrete staircases.
Hamlet Court was originally built in 1832 in stages and was known as Harriet Lodge but is now said to have fallen into a ‘general state of disrepair’.
Planning documents, submitted on behalf of the applicant by agents The Manser Practice, say the building has now slipped beyond the point of reasonable repair and it detracts from the character of the Cowes Conservation Area.
Planning agents, The Manser Practice, say multiple structural appraisals have concluded the building is unstable and due to ground conditions could worsen over the years, and the installation of the concrete stairs is also said to have contributed to significant internal and external structural distress.
Structural works to retain the building had been considered, The Manser Practice said in a design and access statement but the scale of the work to repair the building would be very substantial and not justified in terms of financial viability.
Cowes Town Council was presented with the redevelopment project earlier this year and councillors questioned why the building would need to come down.
So far the majority of comments on the application have been supportive of the proposals, saying the current building is ‘an eyesore’ and in a ‘shocking state’, with the main concern raised by nearby residents is the proposed height of the 2 houses and fear the views neighbours currently have, may be ‘destroyed’.
One resident said:
“As an overlooking neighbour and near resident, I am delighted that the current eyesore is being removed. I do have a concern over the height of the replacement buildings but what is being proposed is certainly a significant improvement and a block of flats would be much worse.”
Proposals submitted in the early 2000s to knock down the court and build a block of 12 flats on the site were rejected multiple times by the Isle of Wight Council and finally the Planning Inspectorate.
You can view the plans, 22/00884/FUL, on the council’s planning register.
‘If the price is right, knock them down’, often appears to be the way with planners according to some on here.
Once can’t help wondering, when we witness the ruination of acres of fields, trees, hedgerows and all the wildlife contained and feeding on such land is given the go-ahead, yet smaller projects with less ‘life changing’ sums of cash more easily splashed about and still able to make massive profits, are seemingly more debated.
Perhaps it is because ‘those who think they matter’ views will be spoiled whereas the planners and wealthy care nothing for the plebs views, lifestyle being ruined, assuming they know no better.
SG: It isn’t “those who think they matter” who are objecting, as they won’t have to look at them and anyway they are seldom here. It’s the rest of us having our picturesque town ruined for the sake fo putting some cash into the pockets of developers.
Wouldn’t it be surprising if some of that cash ended up in Tory Party coffers?
Ghastly lego block building, of course had to be luxury, so therefore not even thinking of the local people needing anywhere to live. Looks like the travesty of block build rubbish along Lymington waterfront, and they have some cracks appearing already. Cheaply built and not built to last.
Yet more concrete and glass monstrosities to ruin the face of Cowes. Cowes TC object but under the current (central government rules) local opinion counts for nought.
More second homes with no economic benefit to the Island.
Never mind, some developer will make a few million out of it, and that’s the name of the game.
Affordable second homes for the rich. Just what we need.
Yes if there isn’t enough already dfls ever where
“The building has now slipped beyond the point of reasonable repair and it detracts from the character of the Cowes Conservation Area.“
Well, here’s a ‘radical’ idea…
Instead of building these modern style structures. Being within the Cowes Conservation Area, why not build the exterior in keeping with the ‘conservation area’, and the interiors am be as 21st Century as you like. It has been done in other conservation areas, so why must we be ‘blighted’ with yet little soulless boxes?!
here we go again! the ongoing destruction of Cowes Seafront continues, more appeasement for the DFT gin swilling pink trouser brigade, meanwhile real locals struggle to get on the housing ladder!
Such ugly replacements! Why can’t these developers build something which will compliment the existing architecture? I wish they’d build something beautiful for once.
Totally agree Debby, but that would require common sense which seems to fall short in certain quarters of this Island.
Because it needs skill to build a nice looking building. Need I say more. Bodge built from a lego template.
Something a bit unclear, they state.. not justified in terms of financial viability… Yet it is viable to knock it down and build million pound homes??? Obvious this will happen, as it is Cowes. Awful looking buildings further down the sea front, weird looking buildings in same area, all new designs nothing to make them look like they belong, and the cost of them ridiculous !
The size of the grounds would have enough room to build senior flats, similar to the town side of the Green. Would be more appropriate and much needed, (compared to some space age glass house X 2 ).. Could easily get more than 8 flats.
Yes flatten it and make that ground the entrance to the Freedom Tunnel.. across to mainland.. !! That would look far better and be much more useful than two futuristic looking homes that will not last very long. Just look at the cracks in the others that were built not long ago.. a tunnel would provide more for this Island than these two buildings ever could !!
The drawings look awful, so square and boring looking. I would be surprised if those living nearby would appreciate them. They need to concentrate on something that over time will blend in with the other properties. These modular builds end up being high maintenance nothing better than brick and mortar, has stood the test of time and two world wars.
Ahh, joy and celebration, this must be the much promised affordable housing!
(Sarcasm fully intended, for the haters to dim to understand)
Perhaps they could instead build blocks of apartments for social housing families there?
I am sure that by mixing the so called poor, with the never admit they are, rich the two extremes of the evolutionary scale could learn to accept one another’s ways of life.
The rich could listen each evening to colourful language, and grime, rap music, going on late into the night, could find their gardens littered with beer cans, bottles and vomit as the poor spend their heating allowance now, before the cold of Winter.
And the poor could perhaps joy ride better quality cars, keeping themselves safer with full air bag and impact protection
Totally DISGUSTED and yes I am shouting. The new for the rich buildings look an eye sore.