Members of the Planning Committee vote last night to approve an application to demolish the former Rivoli Cinema in Sandown.
The decision went against the Isle of Wight council planning officer’s recommendation for refusal.
The officers argued that,
“The proposal would result in the unjustified loss of a non-designated heritage asset, which makes a significant positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Sandown Conservation Area and local distinctiveness.”
Committee decision
Members instead vote to approve the application to demolish the former cinema.
Chair of the committee, Cllr Julia Baker-Smith, told OnTheWight,
“I proposed deferral in order to give the applicant time to produce the evidence required to justify demolition as the main issue in my view was that insufficient evidence had been provided on the viability or lack thereof of the alternative conversion scheme.
“The vote on my proposal fell and a Proposal for approval contrary to officers recommendation was made by Councillor Hollis.
“It was the view of the majority of the committee that the loss of the building had been sufficiently justified, that it had reached the end of its useful life, that the replacement scheme was acceptable and of benefit to the regeneration of Sandown.”
Full details
Full details of the officer’s recommendation can be found in the paper below from page 38 onwards.
