Plans for an ‘Escape Room’ in a former Isle of Wight Council building have been dropped, as demolition looms.
Random Rooms wanted to transform Thompson House on Sandy Lane, Gatcombe into an ‘Escape Room’ but County Hall rejected the bid, saying it did not meet the criteria proposed for the site.
The land is instead earmarked for 15 houses and the Isle of Wight Council has received £135,000 in government funding, under the brownfield release fund, to make the site suitable for housing.
Posting on social media, Random Rooms said it was disappointed but the news was not unexpected and that it was already discussing other new ideas.
The last Council services left the site in 2022 and the green light was given to demolish the former education centre. The contract for demolition starts next week, on Monday 17th April and discussions are ongoing about what will happen to the land.
Developers are being sought to take on the new build project, on approximately 2.4 hectares, which is currently up for sale.
Lake’s former Island Learning Centre and what was Weston Academy in Totland have also got brownfield release fund cash.
It means they have to be released for development by March 2024.
The Isle of Wight council should be building homes for people on this land. One day we might get a competent council that work for the island needs.
Ga noow that would be a novelty
Why not convert it into flats. Save having to dispose of all the rubble.
We don’t want houses on brownfield!
,£135,000 no guessing where that will be wasted+ Consultants, back handers etc. Demolition won’t cost, service’s are already on site and close by etc. Why don’t the council do something with land and profit, rather than pass to property developers to take profit.