Major plans to breathe new life into the former Fort Victoria Pier near Yarmouth have been unveiled.
Miles Blamire, acting as the applicant to the Isle of Wight Council, wants to restore the redundant pier and build a shellfish and fish landing processing facility, shop and restaurant, as part of the Westhill Beach development.
Marked as a brownfield site, the pier sits next to the Grade II listed Fort Victoria and was formerly used as part of the military operation there.
The pier, its tramlines and ancillary structures were used to move, store and load marine mines but the site was partially dismantled once the military use stopped.
In the mid-80s, it became part of a small boat-building yard but following the redevelopment of the area into a tourism destination in the late 90s, it has been untouched.
A heritage statement by West Sussex Archaeology, submitted as part of planning documents, says the pier is considered to be of great significance as a surviving example of late 19th century military installation. However, its significance is reduced, they say, due to the partial demolition and its poor condition following considerable erosion.
The pier will be refurbished, reusing the existing piles, becoming a public access space with the commercial fisheries and ‘sea-to-fork eatery’.
Agents on behalf of Miles Blamire, BCM, says the Westhill Beach development seeks to invigorate and energise the historic landmark, providing a hub for education, tourism and economic growth.
The designs for the pier, BCM says, will create a ‘small landmark folly’, embracing the beauty of the seascape and creating something of equal quality.
As part of Westhill Beach, 5x 4-bed houses are also proposed on land in front of the pier which will, in part, fund the commercial development. The homes would be constructed on suspended rafts, supported on new piles, creating a ‘clean, modern and composed sense of place and identity’.
You can view the plans, 22/00634/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 16th May.
Is it still April 1st? 4 bedroom houses for 2nd home owners by any chance?
This looks promising.
Hope the plans get approval.
At least this lot are not hiding behind “affordable homes for locals” bs.
Holiday homes for rich people.
But better then it is now, and good for the local economy and tourism.
,
The delightful aroma of fish guts filling the summer evening air whilst one sits in one’s hot tub.
ye like it will ever happen..more ….it
Dont be mislead by the fake cherry of restoring the pier and installing a jobs for locals fish plant – that bit will never happen but the development of the houses – where there is maximum profit, will.
Indeed and no doubt the beach and pier will be declared private for residents only after that knowing our council.
The current pier may be a bit ugly, but turning this otherwise pleasant coastal location into a new-build housing estate is not going to be an improvement.
I’m sure palms will be greased, and it will go ahead regardless of public opinion.
Somehow I don’t think 5 house’s makes for a housing estate.
I agree with you in principle, BUT sometimes it is best to go with the Flo and say yes (for once). If you say NO to EVERYTHING then it makes US look like the nimbys that they try to portray us as.
PICK YOUR BATTLES TO WIN THE WAR.
Vote ting vote tong. Tong ting.
I didn’t realise there was a call for a commercial fish processing facility in this stretch of water.
“The aim is to create a clean, modern and composed sense of place and identity which leads to the highest standards of design; creating buildings which fully engrain themselves into the environment and are permeable via the understorey and through horizontal and vertical vistas. The proposal seeks to energise the area through high quality design to enrich the built environment.”
Ahhhhh, I see where the developer is coming from now. There was me thinking that they were just going to be 5 larges houses blotting out the landscape and ruining the peaceful area.
I would not buy one of those even if I could afford it… first storm and exceptional high tide and there is your flood or broken windows!