The Isle of Wight Council Planning Committee will be considering conditional approval for the four storey tower on the site of The Mill Bay Inn on Ventnor’s Esplanade next week.
Readers may remember that the application for development on the site was given partial approval last year. The pub extension and terrace of three dwellings was approved and work has commenced.
The tower element of the application was refused by the Planning Committee last year on design grounds. They stated the “bland and featureless elevational treatment, lack of detailing and proposed materials would constitute an incongruous and visually intrusive feature within the street scene which fails to protect or enhance the appearance and character of Ventnor Conservation Area”.
Revisions were made to the design of the tower and resubmitted to the council. Three periods of public consultation followed.
Letters of objection and support submitted
Ten letters of objection were received in relation to the application that was initially advertised on 1 July 2011. Fourteen letters were received supporting the development.
A further public consultation ending on 2 December 2011 attracted five letters of objection and four letters of support.
The most recent period of consultation ending on 4 April 2012, attracted three letters of objection and one letter of support.
The report prepared by the planning officer also states that the Ventnor Town Council strongly oppose this application. They state that the “discordance of styles (deco, modern marine and “shard” glazing) will be even more detrimental to the street scene than the previous design”.
Report recommends conditional approval
The planning officer considers that an Art Deco design is appropriate for this site and concludes that the proposal would not detract from the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.
The report being presented to the Planning Committee next week recommends ‘conditional approval’ of the application.
The meeting takes place at County Hall on 1st May at 4pm.
Image: © L. Hewitt
