Plans to convert an empty bank on Sandown High Street into a 4-bedroom house are recommended for refusal by planning officers after the change of property use was deemed ‘undesirable’.
The plan first came before the Isle of Wight Council last December when Mr and Mrs Conkleton sought prior approval to transform the former Lloyds bank into a family home.
Officers on the planning committee refused the scheme and a full application was then submitted, showing changes to the internal layout but none externally.
Councillor Ian Ward, the local member, supported the application saying it was government policy to encourage empty buildings to be changed for residential use, to stop the decline of high streets.
Now, the planning authority is once again saying the plan should be refused but is leaving the decision up to the council’s planning committee, due to ‘marginal and difficult policy issues’.
A report from officers advises the committee on the conflicting issues behind the application before they make the final decision. Planning policy in the Island Plan Core Strategy, which councillors will use to determine the application, seeks to preserve shops in town centres, with council support for proposals that would contribute to their vitality and viability.
Officers acknowledged the change of use would fill an empty building in the town centre but considered it would result in an ‘undesirable change’ — with the harm outweighing the benefit.
They say the non-commercial use within a row of commercial properties would stop the free flow of pedestrians and have a potential impact on the viability of shops further along the High Street.
Officers also say the residential use of the ground floor would have a more permanent detrimental impact to the conservation area than the currently vacant unit and would not be in keeping with the prevailing pattern of development.
There are also outstanding questions over financial contributions required of the developers relating to affordable housing and nitrate mitigation in the Solent, which officers say also add further reasons for refusals.
The committee will make their decision on Tuesday 21st June.
Well I must say how right the planner are, Indeed One only need to look at the development at the lower end of the High Street in Newport to find just how poor this form of Development can be, still that was passed prior
“They say the non-commercial use within a row of commercial properties would stop the free flow of pedestrians and have a potential impact on the viability of shops further along the High Street.”
What planet are these officers on, seriously?!! The last time there was a free flow of pedestrians in Sandown high street was 1973. Do they actually know what they are saying.
“Councillor Ian Ward, the local member, supported the application saying it was government policy to encourage empty buildings to be changed for residential use, to stop the decline of high streets.”
and there is me thinking shops cafes’ etc form a high street, not housing
think Ian Ward needs to be re-educated
I have never heard such a load of old tosh in my life. Detrimental to a conservation area. Have they been down Sandown front recently. You realy could not make this up.
If this was council project there would have been no resistance. Perhaps the owners should become local councilors and after going ahead with the work, apply for retrospective planning, then that would get through.
Shame that they can’t turn it into a dentist.
Aye to that.
Someone talking serious sense their.
This country is going down hill fast.
We’re becoming so far behind every other country it’s embarrassing.
I liked your observative comment.
My teeth will be gone before I get the chance of a dentist to look at them.
Please can we have another charity shop paying NO property tax
They should turn it back into a bank. I’m sure sandown could do with an injection of cash. Or maybe a food bank.
Yes Yes Yes Dr lollipop 3 floors of dentists that what we need OR A doctor where you can actually see a real doctor.
Hang on, so the NIMBY lot say no to green field sites but when the opportunity to make a home from a disused property, they say no again! Life moves on, you can’t keep saying no and expect the island to survive. The reason we have no dentists is because they can’t find a place to live on the island. The ambulance service on the island is undermanned because new staff can’t find sensibly priced housing on the island. The NIMBY lot are killing the island.
Surely anything new or upgraded would be ‘desirable’ in Sandown!
Unfortunately if there was a huge gas explosion in Sandown it would do a million pounds worth of improvements.
They need to spend money on seafront to attract tourists instead of put them off
Towns throughout the UK are dead, supermarkets supply food along with other stuff, and we can park without being attacked by parking wardens..
Anything else needed we go on line, the council are happy to destroy our countryside building little boxes, but allow Towns to become decaying eyesores…
Corruption comes to mind…
It’s fine if it’s a church.
But a bank into flats for needy people, let’s not be having that. So that’s 4 less places to live in.
How can we solve the housing issue if empty buildings on derelict streets can’t be transformed into homes.
Am I stupid or is the system broken.
After years of neglect, mainly due to the masterly inactivity exercised by its Local Councillors, Sandown has become an Area of Outstanding Dereliction, and as such, any decision on this matter would seem to be of little consequence either way.
They should feel lucky anyone wants to do anything in Sandown High Street instead of looking a gift horse in the mouth; when it’s fallen into such disrepair that no-one wants it’s perhaps planning committee can roll up their sleeves and do a bit of replastering/bricking and dream of it being an up market coffee house