A tea room and garden in Godshill could be converted into a 3-bedroom house, with a smaller replacement tea room built alongside.
Daniel Palmer has submitted a change of use application to the local authority to convert The Olive Garden cafe and tea rooms on Godshill’s High Street into residential accommodation with a detached replacement tea room.
Mr Palmer’s proposed house would have a dining room, lounge, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, utility room, hall and cupboard room.
A Design, Access and Heritage Statement prepared as part of the application says:
“This application will provide an attractive, functional and accessible environment that contributes to the sense of place, bringing forward a new dwelling in a sustainable location.
“Our proposal would invest in and improve a tourism element in the heart of Godshill, supporting the local economy. The proposed tearoom would complement the existing building and fit in well with the mixed character of the conservation area.
“The new build has been designed to blend and complement the existing property with similar colour brick elevations, overhanging eaves, rendered detailing around the windows and a slate roof, giving it a sense of place within the village.
“Overall, in light of the policy position changes in terms of housing numbers and delivery and the fact that our proposal provides the opportunity for a new residential dwelling in a sustainable location whilst retaining the commercial tearoom element, we believe this application should be approved.”
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The council’s public consultation on the application will end on 14th March and a decision is due on 4th April.
UPDATE – The Isle of Wight’s highways service provider has now weighed in on plans.
Island Roads say the plans raise issues including ‘inadequate’ access visibility, parking and turning space.
In a submitted Highways Representation, Island Roads said the proposed development’s access is ‘unsatisfactory’ due to ‘unacceptable visibility’.
The report also stated the plans do not have ‘adequate’ space and facilities to allow vehicles to park in, enter and leave the site in a ‘satisfactory and safe manner’. Road safety interests would be ‘compromised’ by the application, it added.
Wouldn’t Mr Palmer find some bedrooms useful? Perhaps it’s not the change of use we were imagining?
Shouldn’t be allowed, look what became of
Brighstone when Coopers closed down
(All Houses now)
Godshill is a pretty island village that pulls
in many tourists throughout the year all
year round.
Island Tourism is very important, it creates
employment.
Slippery slope.