Part of a family-run hotel in Lake could soon be transformed into 3 flats.
Lorraine Barrett has applied to the Isle of Wight Council to convert the bar area and 8 hotel bedrooms of the Lorron Hotel at Sandown Road, Lake, into self-contained residential units, to be let on the Island’s private rental market.
In a Design and Access Statement written on behalf of Mrs Barrett, agent company Trade Plans said:
“The Lorron Hotel fits into a niche area of tourism – it only caters for school parties in normal times, and only operates for four months of the year.
“The business is not viable at this time, with booking numbers down, but cannot be marketed as it is the only income stream the owner has, and also serves as their main dwelling.
“The owner is looking to take a more diverse approach to the site, taking into account the changing economy, and is looking to reduce the numbers of school children that it caters for, but to still operate on a four month basis.
“The proposal will convert some communal space serving as the bar area and eight of the hotel’s 16 bedrooms into self-contained dwellings.
“These dwellings will be available to the rental market, and additional income derived from them to make up the shortfall from the reduced occupancy of the hotel.”
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The document added rental income would assist the upkeep of remaining hotel accommodation and enable a ‘major refurbishment’.
Proposals would also include a cycle store for 4 bikes with 1 space provided for each flat, as well as 1 extra.
The application claims there would be parking provision for both residents and visitors.
Highway service Island Roads objected to the application in a consultee comment published on 30th October.
Its Highways Representation said:
“The proposals envisaged in this application have implications affecting the highway network due to the limited number of proposed on-site car parking spaces and the lack of evidence that the proposed development would not result in parking demand being displaced onto the surrounding highway network to the detriment of highway safety.”
The council’s public consultation on the proposals will close on 29th November and a statutory decision is due on 17th December.
