A Victorian villa hotel in the seaside town of Sandown will be converted into supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities.
Mr R Freeman of Fundamentum has been granted planning permission for a change of use of The Fernside at 30 Station Avenue, amid both the town and the Island’s declining tourism industry.
A Planning and Heritage Statement from Brodie Planning Associates said the hotel was marketed for 8 months from November 2024 to June this year, with ‘little interest’ in the property as a ‘going concern’ despite a £10,000 price reduction.
Submitted plans for the accommodation include 12 en-suite bedrooms, an office and communal space.
Brodie Planning Associates said:
“The lack of any interest in purchasing this property and operating it as a hotel over an eight month period clearly demonstrates the use is no longer viable.
“This is consistent with the wider picture of decline in tourism on the Island, and particularly Sandown.
“It is simply not sustainable for this property to lie empty especially when there is a severe shortfall in housing and in particular when this property could provide much needed specialist accommodation for those with disabilities.”
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The Isle of Wight Council’s decision report on proposal 25/01581/FUL said:
“The application site is located within The Bay Key Regeneration Area and its settlement boundary and would make a modest positive contribution to meeting local housing needs for specialist accommodation.
“The application has demonstrated that the existing use is no longer viable, and that the property has been marketed. Therefore, the loss of the existing hotel/guest house can be accepted and would be unlikely to harm the local tourism economy.”
Sandown Town Council said it supported the application in a letter to the council but urged that heritage conservation be included in planning conditions to allow development and history to ‘coexist harmoniously’.
The approval comes with 4 conditions for reasons of planning and legal compliance, preserving the character and appearance of the Sandown Conservation Area, ensuring adequate provision for on-site cycle and waste parking/storage and protecting the amenities of neighbouring properties and the local area.
Good news for folk who, through no fault of their own, experience more limited lifetime experiences and opportunities than us.
take it Starmer and and his mates will be their first customers