More flats are planned for Newport High Street — after a jewellers closed down.
The offices of the now-empty Warren James store in the upper High Street could be turned into 3 affordable flats, if a scheme by Oren Atlen, the building’s owner, is approved.
In April, according to a sign in its window, Warren James was being asked to vacate the High Street shop due to coming to the end of its lease. It had been a popular store since it opened in 2017, surrounded by other big national retail names such as Poundland, B&M, WH Smith and Specsavers.
Now, while the currently vacant commercial property on the ground floor would remain, plans could see changes upstairs and to the front of the shop.
The offices above the shop were previously accessed from the rear but to make more living space, that staircase would be removed and replaced by an extension. The entrance to the residential properties would be from the High Street.
Planning agents, Nova Architectural, said in documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, the proposal envisages modernising the internal floor layouts, removing partitions, and making use of the vacant floor space for affordable accommodation.
On the 1st floor, there would be a 1-bed and a 2-bed flat with another 2-bed flat above.
There is a lack of natural light, planners say, so plan to add windows where possible to ensure there is enough natural light and a dormer on the top floor.
You can view the plans, 22/01161/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 12th August.
MUCH-NEEDED FLATS PLANNED….
Nope get rid of the benefit spongers imported to the island at taxpayer expense, get rid of the asylum seekers, who could have claimed asylum in any of the safe countries they passed through before burdening us with their presence and get rid of the second home owners, as well as airbnb – then there will be plenty of housing available for islanders
Soon Newport and other town high streets will only be ‘high’ streets because of dubious ethnic types hanging around in once shop, but then flats doorways, always on mobiles, providing cyclist deliveries of anything but the morning newspapers.
The greedy council and weak Government has ruined the Island allowing in such low end beings, not for a while, but now for the rest of time.
Lets have “much needed flats” above Poundstretcher, Brighthouse, Carphone, Topshop/Topman, etc etc
And how about “much needed flats” in county hall? At least it would make better use of the place.
Will probably attract rough vagrants like everywhere across the island