A ‘tired and dated’ but popular café on the popular Shanklin cliff path could be renovated with a flat on top.
Fears have been raised about cliff stability with the demolish and rebuild plan.
Blueberry’s Café, on the Cliff Path overlooking the Bay, is currently a single-storey building with an outdoor covered patio.
However, agent Andrew White Planning Consultancy, acting on behalf of Mr and Mrs Eede, said it is accepted the café does not positively contribute to the visual qualities of the area as it is tired and dated in appearance.
In planning documents, the agents say the only thing holding the café back is the nature and condition of the existing building. The proposals could improve the café facilities which would benefit both the tourist and residential populations by providing year-round facilities and strengthening the business.
As part of the regeneration plans, 2-bed flat would be built on top of the café. It is said to have minimum impact on the amenities of nearby residential properties through overdominance, loss of privacy or overlooking.
The flat will also provide security to the site, the planners say.
However, nearby residents in Littlestairs Road have already objected to the plans. They said they are happy for the café to be rebuilt and refurbished but object to the added residential accommodation.
One said: “We feel that to build a stable two-storey building that close to the cliff could cause major disturbance to the cliff edge and cliff path. There are no other buildings this close to the cliff edge’, whilst another highlighted the recent cliff falls in the area and said the larger structure could undermine the cliff as well as neighbouring properties.
There were also concerns about the accommodation blocking light into their houses and garden and ruining their views.
You can view the application, 22/02208/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register.
Comments can be made until 3rd February.
More ruination of our seaside, just by pure greed of the owners.
Just a sly way of gaining otherwise, even with our dubious lot of planners, permission for another home worth a fortune, by pretending such is necessary for security.
It would be far cheaper for the owner to fit steel roller shutters and an alarm, BUT nowhere near as profitable.
Tell the truth and people would still object but not have their intelligence insulted.
You’re an idiot!
Me thinks you Mr Browlands protest too much. Vested interests one can deduce from such comments.
You’re an idiot too!
Yep pure greed they must make so much money over the summer mounth and as for insulting people intelligence well there no fear of that with you
Yea how dare they want to earn a living instead of scrounging of off tax payers .
and then they close the cafe and turn the ground floor into more flats, followed by more flats built close by – we know the drill here.
Why would they want to close the cafe?? They graft really hard for 6 months of the year and make a good and well deserved living and give much pleasure to locals and visitors. Engage your brain before making ill judged comments.
isle of wighter
Spot on comment.
Once permission granted, within a year or two, the massive profit from the flat, WITHOUT all the fuss of food hygiene laws, fire regs, staffing issues, health and safety, food allergy and difficult customers, there will be a decleration of ‘the owners wish to retire early’ and the rents from as you say, then, both properties will fund such without fuss and hard work.
Who could blame them
But don’t take us all for mugs, as some of us aren’t.
Blocking the light out? It’s a car park behind the building? Don’t get that one. Good on Liam and Clare they run a great little business, and keep the lawn lovely and trim within the garden seating area. Council take note! You should be ashamed of the hedgerows along the cliff path between Shanklin and Sandown, no thought when hacking them back, over grown trees so you can’t see the lovely vista between Dunnose and Culver. Nothing more than expected though.
How amazing that the immediate neighbors to this proposal have themselves proposed a very similar but MUCH LARGER extension to their own property!!!! Yet they object to this. Classic IoW NIMBYism or what???? Beggars belief!
We all know that littlestairs is full of stuck up rich twats lol..I’m sure the gravel in the carpark thats ACTUALLY near it wont object!
Why not the cafe on both floors so the customers can enjoy the sea views?
Good on them, who can blame them for trying to improve there already fantastic Caffè, I suggest that peaple mind there own business or support them and keep there stupid negitive thoughs to there selfs
What a wonderful idea for a beautiful cafe. I wish them well. The plans look great
Really…..? It looks like a bomb shelter imo.
Why fix it if it ain’t broke ?