Plans to transform a derelict Bembridge building into a cafe and restaurant have been slammed as ‘intrusive’, with the Isle of Wight Council refusing planning permission. The local authority has delivered a heavy blow to those behind plans for The View at Lane End in Bembridge. Seaview’s Old Fort owners, Will Simonds and Justin Evelegh, revealed their ambitions for the seaside site earlier this year. Planning officers felt the proposals — which would provide a ‘destination eatery’ in the town as well as tidy up a ‘half-built eyesore’ — would be ‘out of scale and context with its seafront surrounding’ and ‘be an over-dominant and intrusive development’. The proposals would have created 2 floors of indoor dining space, with outdoor terraces, 3 en-suite bedrooms and living spaces for staff accommodation as well as pizza, drink and ice cream kiosks. The council did note the plans had considerable support — with 72 letters being submitted in favour — and represent an investment in the town’s tourism offer but overall said the benefits would not outweigh the harm the development would cause. This was because of the excessive depth, size and scale and the ‘overbearing’ adverse impact it would have on neighbours. The officers said the building with its unusual design features, elevated terrace and extensive glazing would be an ‘intrusive feature in the landscape’, appearing over large and not in keeping with its surroundings. The plans had split public opinion with 47 letters of objection submitted, including from the next-door RNLI station which raised concerns about delays to launches due to congestion along Lane End Road. Planning officers also said the proposals do not provide sufficient parking, as policy dictates it should have at least 45 spaces which cannot be provided. With such a shortfall in parking, an assessment was needed, officers said, which has not been provided in the planning documents. The Isle of Wight Council rejected it on 5 grounds, which included a lack of information about the ecology and drainage and raised road safety concerns about vehicles entering and exiting the site. The refusal can be appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, if the applicant so wishes.
PLANNING PERMISSION REFUSED FOR NEW BEMBRIDGE RESTAURANT DESPITE OBVIOUS SUPPORT
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Bears don’t defecate in their own woods.
So unless those local bears, pink ones, were the developers, then little hope of infringing on other ‘influential’ people’s abodes who reside there; when not living in one of their other properties abroad.
So owners need to shake hands differently.
But imo a good decision as parking is awful in the tiny car park, with elderly drivers who rarely leave the village shunting backwards and forward a dozen times to badly park, and the stony beach used for local dogs toilet needs, a muddy pot holed overlflow car park and dozens of elderly leaving teeth out to dine is not really much of an attraction.
Your just an idiot.
That’s a shame. Plans look fabulous. There’s an old saying in life standing still is moving backwards.
Bring back the old cafe, that worked for years fine.
The 21st century frightens a lot of people in Bembridge. Bring it up to date.
We must not allow anything that moves the island forward. It must remain run down and set in its ways for the olds.
They obviously didn’t offer a big enough brown envelope.
Unlike the ones offered for green field developments you mean.
No worries about upsetting neighbours or existing residents views in those cases.
Yup.130 Captiva hutches defiling prime farmland,no issue whatsoever.
Sell the plot for a luxury home.
Least that way no parking issues to risk delaying the flotsam’s taxi service.
Also the then home owner would likely only spend a week or so a year there thus not add to our overburdened infrastructure.
can the Planning officers please get it right Bembridge is a village not a town
Oh my days. So the locals moan about it being an eye sore for years. Now they moan about the development and bringing much needed improvements to that eyesore. The clowncil should get sone kind of continuity in what they pass and what they don’t. Thats going sit empty for more years to come, watch the locals moan again about it.