A bid to turn an ‘extremely tired and rundown’ former Shanklin hotel into 8 flats has been approved by County Hall.
Planners granted Mr and Mrs Lawrence consent for a change of use of the Roseglen Hotel at 12 Palmerston Road, including a demolition of the building’s rear two-storey extension.
The Isle of Wight Council previously said it held an open enforcement case relating to the hotel’s unauthorised change of use to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
The local authority said enforcement action was paused while the flats application was being considered.
Its decision report on proposal 25/01611/FUL said there was ‘no demand for the property as a going concern’.
The report said:
“The hotel use has become unviable, there is no demand for the property as a going concern and the loss of the hotel accommodation would not have a serious adverse impact on the local tourism economy.
“The proposed conversion would result in suitable accommodation for occupiers and would have no adverse impact on neighbouring amenity or the highway network.”
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A total of 3 conditions were included in the permission relating to legal and planning policy compliance and highway safety.
A legal agreement between the applicants and County Hall, including an Affordable Housing Contribution, has been published on the planning portal.
Both Shanklin Town Council and local Conservative Isle of Wight councillor Michael Beston supported the conversion with letters to planners.
A Design, Access and Planning Statement from the Lawrence’s agent, Andrew White Planning Consultancy, said the Roseglen has been a casualty of the downturn in hotel accommodation tourism and that conversion into residential use seems to be the best option for the building.
Well there aren’t many tourists so….