VB readers may remember last year how the Ventnor seafront was saved from the blight of a previously approved six storey building on the Le Veness site.
The application for the six story building, housing nine flats and two shop units on the seafront had been approved prior to the introduction of the Ventnor Conservation Area. The development was described at the time by former Planning Officer, Andrew Pegram as a minor application.
Last minute works
Back in June/June last year, just a matter of weeks before the five year planning permission ran out, work to clear the site suddenly commenced.
Local residents and councillors raised their concerns with the local planning authority (LPA) who eventually forced the work to stop.
Conditions not met
It emerged that a condition attached to the permission requiring a detailed method statement being approved prior to any work taking place had not been met.
We understand that a geo-technical evaluation was quickly pulled together and submitted to the LPA, but was rejected by the LPA as insufficient and the developer notified that permission had lapsed.
Appeal lodged with Inspectorate
We now hear that the Trustees of the Estate of the late Abraham Aubrey Moss, the owner of the site, have lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
They argue that the geo-technical evaluation submitted just prior to the permission lapsing should have been sufficient for allow works to continue.
We understand that the LPA will be making a decision within the next 24 hours as to whether they are prepared to challenge the appeal.
We’ll let you know once we hear anything.
