Plans to change a recently built cafe into holiday lets at Totland Pier have been refused.
The Bay Cafe was built as part of the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Totland Pier and opened for a season in 2021. But it did not reopen last summer, prompting questions over its future.
Plans had been hatched by Surrey-based developers, Wooldridge Group, to shut the cafe for good, instead turning the space into 5x short-stay holiday rental rooms.
The proposals were not met with community support.
Totland Parish Council was among those to object to the plans saying a cafe has been at the site since the 1940s — including the popular Pier Cafe —and has been enjoyed by locals as well as visitors.
It said it supported the original investment plans but was disappointed with the new application as it will lose employment opportunities, a community asset and change the character of the beach area. A lack of facilities, it said, will deter people coming to the area.
Another objector, commenting on the council’s planning portal, said there had been no consideration to the area nor the people and they would like to see a plan that recognises the local community and keeps the cafe as part of Totland Bay.
Isle of Wight Council planning officers agreed with objectors and refused the application last week.
The planning authority determined the change of use would result in the loss of an existing cafe that serves visitors to the area and the local community. They said the loss of the cafe would have a detrimental impact on tourism provision, the vitality of a key seafront destination and community amenities.
The application also failed to address other planning aspects like nitrate neutrality and the Solent special protection area. It also had an insufficient flood risk assessment.
Further up the pier, at the new restaurant, changes have been approved by the Isle of Wight Council to the internal layout, including new entrance doors.
Nice try – this was probably their intention all along.
I don’t think so. Went there to eat once. The best way to describe the food on offer was “limited and odd”, that is why it failed. It will need to be entirely gutted to convert it into accommodation.
Right decision to deny this, though. Needs someone to take it over and run it properly.
ever heard of “intentionally failed”
If they intended it to fail all anong they would have made it easier to convert in the first place. As I said, I’ve been there. The food wasn’t good but I got a good look at the layout of the building. Not an easy job to convert it into a residence.
have you been there?
yes. it was fantastic! if only i could have stayed the night too!
Think you’ll find that five prime location holiday flatlets would net the owners many times more than the relatively paltry income from a lease on the cafe, GIOW. A huge development company is not going to run the place themselves by putting a manager in and I suspect Isle of Wighter is spot on. The change of usage could well have been plan A rather than B.
Time to get the big brown envelope out
Exactly. The council aren’t worried about public service or right or wrong. They’ve consistently proved they only serve themselves.
They would have been a more popular eating venue if they served good basic food that most of us enjoy instead of the “gastro” food that only a few want. The cafe has been there all my life as somewhere to stop off on my walks along the coastal path, so well done in blocking the plans that only a few would have enjoyed.
Let’s hope it’s not left empty.
Omg the planning committee know the word NO !!!????
Maybe they could apply it 2 all the fat cat profiteers ?
Oh unless the BROWN envelope appears ?!?.
To be honest imo who the heck will come to the iow with the ridiculous costs?….
The concrete jungle and roadworks , diversions etc ?…..
All developers are only interested in themselves never the community they wreck…
I certainly hope it does not get burned down for insurance and then to let flats be built…
All that is happening is the applicant and council ‘going through the motions’. The planning office had to reject this application because they knew that the following $hitstorm of complaints from the public would bring unwanted attention again. This council does not have our best wishes at heart and you are mad if you think they do. The applicant will appeal and win then make a bucket load of money at a later date when they sell the whole project and it’s converted to residential dwellings. I agree with those that think this was the endgame plan all along.
Yes, regrettably, I think you are right and the man from Bristol will probably say yes on appeal
Loved it as was, a bit rundown, call it shabby chic, great food at a good price and log fire with the waves rolling in, many a memorable Sunday morning spent there.
And now we have a yuppie eyesore that excludes the average local.
Couldn’t afford it if it were to be put in to accommodation, council don’t accommodate for the every day people
What a shame the old cafe disappeared. I know it needed updating but the food was great at a very reasonable price. Then came the new cafe. Not so inviting to the numerous locals that enjoyed the atmosphere of the old. Higher prices. Access for the disabled not so good. We already have an expensive restaurant in Colwell we do not need another in Totland. Come back Cath and Mike.
the restaurant at the end of the pier. Another for our boating friends from the mainland. With all the high winds is it safe to walk down the pier?