As reported by News OnTheWight last night (catch up here), twenty interested parties have put themselves forward to develop the former Shanklin Spa Hotel site on the Esplanade.
Jones-Evans: Very strong level of interest
Speaking at the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet meeting last night (Thursday), Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, regeneration and business development lead, said she was pleased to report the very strong level of interest the council had received in just a few days.
The site, which the authority owns, is listed in the draft Island Planning Strategy as being suitable for sustainable, high quality, predominantly residential development.
At least 50 dwellings
It could provide at least 50 properties, in a mix of sizes and affordable housing, public transport and highway improvements as well as contributions towards improvements to the seawall and coastal defences, says the plan.
The site, next to the cliff lift, currently comprises a public car park, closed public toilets and redundant buildings.
“Boutique holiday accommodation”
According to the council’s regeneration Website, called iWight Invest ‘An Isle of Opportunities’, another idea for the beachfront site, could see a ’boutique holiday accommodation that attracts visitors all year long’.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
Image: An artist’s impression of a development on the site of the former Spa Hotel on Shanklin Esplanade as proposed on the council’s investment opportunity Website in 2017
