A former pub and hotel in Bembridge could be demolished with plans to build up to 11 flats put forward to the planning committee.
The Raffles Tavern building, on Steyne Road in Bembridge, was last used as a dormitory for the Kingswood outdoor activity centre but has been empty for the last 2 years.
The property was sold earlier this year and now new owners, Ronima Ltd – a Winchester-based company – is looking to redevelop the site into 11x 2-bed flats across 3 floors.
In documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, planning agent Phil Salmon said the building was in a relatively poor state of repair and in need of comprehensive refurbishment — with damp issues, very poor insulation and inefficient heating systems. The building is also said to be poorly laid out, with all the issues combined equating to the argument it is “considered neither to be desirable nor financially unsustainable” to retain the building, the agent said.
The planning statement says the site offers an opportunity to promote a sustainable residential scheme on a brownfield site which, once approved, could be built quickly.
You can view the plans, 22/01334/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 5th September.
One objection has so far been submitted, by a neighbour, who said they were ‘incredibly disheartened’ to see another development planned in the area — as ‘more and more’ residential properties had been ‘crammed into every square inch of land’.
The infrastructure was insufficient in and around Bembridge, they said, which would be negatively impacted due to the additional pressure the development would have.
How very dare they try to build new properties in Bembridge! Even on brownfield.
Don’t think this Winchester company know what they are dealing with.
I think it’s terrible! Something should be done about it.
At least the development will be sustainable, no doubt packed full of overseas arrivals ‘sustained’ by your taxes
Rubbish, suck it up Bembridge, you may have friends in high places, but what makes you so special, bunch of snobs.
They’re not special but their contacts are obviously. Unlike Ryde which is a pushover.
Tonight Bembridge Parish Council recommended refusal to the IWC.
Alasdair, so did Ryde Council for the building of Pennyfeathers but IWC don’t take any notice of Parish or town councils.
Well, rarely they do, but only when they want to offload costly WC.’s and other millstones for other parishes and town councils to have to then fund and answer for as costs rise.
Then once offloaded, the IWC can then keep it’s council tax increases slightly lower, but parish precepts then have to rise to cover the ‘cast offs’ expenditure of said toilets etc, thus Parish and town councils then are blamed by the locals for additional costings, but without which NO toilets would be available.
Ryde is a party town and the council is mostly concerned about money coming in, and high street signage. They should be primarily concerned about crime and ASB but have blinkers on. And the new huge estates are not even here yet.
The villages have much more clout than towns because take away quiet village life from the Isle of Wight, and there aren’t many jewels left in the crown.
Yes, thanks for your wonderful insight Bembridge Parish Council (NOT) !!!!
Anything that pisses off the bembridge lot is worthwhile.
And to be honest, this isn’t a bad scheme, at least by the looks of it, other areas have far worse developments forced upon them usually built to the delight of the gin and tonic quaffing snobs out east.
Flats on a brownfield site. This is exactly the kind of development we need on the Island.
YES, but just not in Bembridge.
Not flats dear chap. The very least an apartment, a condominium, or a penthouse pied de terre
Just HOW will Bembridge cope with 5 extra vehicles on its empty roads?