If you’ve been down to Ventnor seafront over the last couple of weeks, you would have seen that demolition of the former Gaiety Amusement arcade has begun.
The original plans were to demolish the entire structure and rebuild from scratch, but the developer says that after analysis of the existing structure it’s become apparent that significant elements of the historic building fabric and structure have remained intact, so it’s possible the cast-iron pillars and dome frame could be retained and built around.
Investigation underway
Ventnor’s Mayor, Cllr Steph Toogood, explains,
“Investigation of the stability and condition of the original cast-iron frame of the Gaiety has begun.
“The first task for John Peck Construction Ltd is to demolish parts of the building to expose the steel structure to the dome to see if it can be refurbished and re-used.
“The fun temporary hoarding by local artist, Stevie Unknown, is to be retained during construction.
High quality materials and finishes
Cllr Toogood added,
“I believe that the image of the new dwelling shows that the architects have designed a new building using the historical features of the original Gaiety.”
The Heritage Appraisal document on the council’s planning portal shows historic images of the venue during its heyday. They give a sense of how close the new designs are to this heritage asset.
See more
You can see the plans and more detail by visiting the application on the council’s planning portal.
Article edit
2.57pm 12th May 2022 – Deputy Mayor changed to Mayor
