A former doctor’s surgery in Newport could be transformed into an 8-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and 3 flats, under a newly submitted plan.
Rufus Owolabi has proposed a change of use of 16 West Street in Newport with plans for ‘low cost rented accommodation’ which planning consultant Paul Stack said will help to maintain the vitality of the town centre.
The application follows a previous bid, which was withdrawn in September 2025 after several objections, including from Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and Island Roads.
Mr Owolabi’s latest proposal comprises 2x 1-bedroom flats, one with two bedrooms and each bedroom within the HMO would be ensuite.
The HMO would also have a large communal kitchen, dining and living shared area.
A submitted Planning Statement said:
“There is an identified need for the proposed low-cost rented accommodation and on this basis occupancy rates should be relatively secure, thereby ensuring the future maintenance of this building, helping to maintain the vitality of the nearby town centre.
“This proposal would make an important and vital contribution to supporting the council’s strategies aimed at tackling Island resident’s housing needs, as well as rough sleeping and homelessness on the Island.”
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County Hall’s public consultation on application 26/00121/FUL finishes on March 6 and a decision is scheduled for 31st March.
Can we have an explanation of how it will maintain the vitality of the town centre?
The tenants will be expert in RIB operation and can pass their knowledge on.
Have you not seen all the numpties drinking and
smoking cannabis in church litten, they will fit in
well with that lot.
The island is sadly becoming a Ghetto.
Another drug den then!
Great more scum druggies filth to be housed thanks.
Here’s an idea, why not turn it back into a doctors surgery..
great idea…
a little bit of the £350 million a week, Brexit has provided for the NHS, would be plenty …
(what’s that,.. there’s no money?? what? Farage & Johnson lied about the £350 million a week.. Really?…
oh well, we’ll just have to wait for reform to get in & we can have it as an ‘Insurance-based health-care’ doctors practice,… exclusivly for all those who can afford private health insurance!)
Oof! Tell it like it is! Such a shame that in spite of everything that’s happened since, they all STILL think it was such a good idea they’ll be voting for more bullsh*t from exactly the same mouths AGAIN! Don’t seem to understand the saying ‘fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’.
When you say Reform getting in, you mean
the Tory reject party!, who will still report to
the same Davos bosses as before.
If you believe things will change under Reform,
keep dreaming, there is more chance of the
island stopping speeding numpties!
Lol
ahhh, you mean those that can pay their way without being bailed out with benefits.
I paid my way for 50 years to now find that the NHS is totally inaccessible for me. 6 months and waiting for a cancer screening appointment at St Mary’s and not even managed to see a GP face to face.
One problem cannot get the staff
Doctors are a dying trade, majority of them
are retiring.
It’s very sad that the uk is returning to renting rooms like the Victorian and Edwardian era. This doesn’t seem like progress.
Just bringing the Town down even more.
Newport is a dump.
The Isle of Wight is a rundown eyesore.
Just look at all the Towns.
Cowes is the only good Town left.
Sounds appropriate, just doctor the building for the benefit of the community.