A former care home in Sandown, which was subject to an arson attack earlier this year, could be pulled down and replaced with 23 flats.
The Stonehaven Residential Home, on Carter Street, which closed in 2018, has previously been given permission to be converted into 16 flats, but the scheme has not yet been started.
Costs to convert the existing building are said to be significant and will continue to rise, according to planning agent Phil Salmon.
Building “must be demolished”
Documents submitted under the new application claim the development value of 16 flats do not justify the building costs.
In order to make the scheme viable and deliverable, the building must be demolished, a valuation found.
In recent years the hotel has been derelic and, squatters have become a risk to the current owners.
Arson investigation
In May this year, a small fire broke out in the empty care home, with firefighters dealing with the blaze for two hours. Police later confirmed they were treating the fire as arson.
The current poor condition of the site is said to now be at odds with the well-maintained residential properties in the area, especially being opposite the Grade II-listed St John’s Church.
History of the building
The building originally served as the vicarage, later being converted and extended as a hotel, then care home before support from the council was withdrawn as previous owners were unable to upgrade the facility to meet standards and regulations.
Faro Properties, of London, are now seeking to demolish the building and construct a new three-and-a-half storey building with 23 one and two-bed flats.
Contribution to offsite affordable housing
There would be no affordable flats as part of the scheme as adding that aspect, Mr Salmon said, would render it undeliverable.
It is proposed a contribution is provided to offsite affordable housing instead.
See the plans
To view plans, 21/01400/FUL, visit the council’s planning portal. Comments will be accepted until 27th August.
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: © Mitchell Evans
