Developers admit they have run out of money for the conversion of the Frank James Hospital in East Cowes, with work stalling on the project.
A design and access statement said: “The development has run out of money and cannot progress.”
It said adding 2 more houses could bring in the money needed to get the project going again.
As a result, a planning application has been submitted, by Charlemaine Estates, to build 4x 2-bedroom stand-alone houses on the current car park to support the development, which started in 2018.
The currently outstanding work on the Grade II listed building has lead developers to talk to the Isle of Wight Council about the progression of the project — with the council ultimately saying legal action had not been ruled out.
An application to build residential units on the car park in the north-west corner of the site has already been approved by the council but now two more houses have been asked for, to bring in more money.
In a heritage statement provided for the application, planning agents have said the additional dwellings are being sought as a way of generating sufficient funds to complete the refurbishment and conversion of the main hospital building.
The current developers have said work has stalled due to a lack of funds and fears without the additional injection of money, coming from the sale of the proposed housing, the development will not start again.
More options to add to the gross development value are also being discussed with the council’s planning team so work can get underway again and make the project ‘viable’ again.
The hospital ceased to be used in 2002, with the NHS selling the site the next year to property developers. However, the site was then sold again in 2014 to its current developers after work failed to start.
The houses will be built behind the former East Cowes doctor’s surgery which is currently derilict and being marketed as office space but could potentially be redeveloped.
Comments on the application (20/00436/FUL) can be made by email or online via the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal until 28th April.
Hey I know, lets turn it back into a hospital. After all in the current crisis it would have made a great quarantine hospital.
We won’t finish it until you agree to let us build two more houses !!!
Another white elephant what a waste of a good hospital
Good luck who ever takes over this site the bodging that has gone on at this site is shocking agent ignored council rules such a shame could be a lovely place to live think it will be as it is for years unless decent builder takes over good luck
The work came to a halt because the lenders starved the project of funds. If you came on site and examined the huge amount of work that was undertaken and see the pictures of how it was when we took over you would appreciate what has gone on. There was no bodging. The project is 95% finished once the tarmacking and the painting, and clock tower is finished the site will be back to its former glory. It’s very easy to point fingers and be critical but believe me you are not if full possession of the facts. Once again anyone who wants to inspect what we have done is welcome. The conservation department let the building deteriorate for over 12 years, the council did not know what to do, and without us taking on the works as we did the building would have perished in a few years. We saved the building and we have the money to finish it, and are in negotiations with the lenders for us to use OUR money to finish it.