Save Britain’s Heritage (SBH) – which was created in 1975 by a group of journalists, historians, architects, and planners to campaign publicly for endangered historic buildings – has spoken out about redevelopment plans at Norris Castle in East Cowes.
The campaign group have written to Isle of Wight council arguing that insufficient detail included in the application would make it impossible to determine such a major application. They join Historic England in objecting to the plans for the £106m development.
“One of the sublime masterpieces of the English Picturesque”
SBH say that the Norris Castle Grade I listed landscape – “one of the sublime masterpieces of the English Picturesque” – is under threat from “inappropriate and overscaled development”.
The letter states,
“The applications seek permission for substantial new development within one of the nation’s most historically important estates, involving major alterations to the fabric and setting of three grade I-listed heritage assets, all of which are of exceptional individual and collective importance.
“Given that this is a hybrid planning application for major development, it is therefore alarming that the detailed elements of the proposals are not accompanied with commensurately detailed plans and assessment of the existing buildings and landscape, and the substantial alterations proposed for them.”
SBH: Insufficient detail
SBH is urging Isle of Wight councillors to reject the planning application on the grounds that it contains insufficient detail for a site of such unparalleled historic significance.
Their letter concludes,
“If the council is minded to proceed with determination despite these concerns, SAVE would strongly object to the proposals, which we consider in their current form would cause irreversible and substantial harm to the Norris Estate and its constituent parts, and in clear contradiction to national and local planning policy for the protection of the Isle of Wight’s historic environment.”
NCEG: The only long-term viable option
Clynt Wellington, director of Norris Castle Estate Group (NCEG), says their proposals are the only long-term viable option necessary to safeguard the heritage assets and retain the estate.
The plans include:
- The conversion of the castle into a 17-suite hotel with a bistro, bar and restaurant. A connected terrace and crescent buildings, built into the landscape, providing 57 additional suites, spa treatment rooms and a swimming pool.
- The restoration and conversion of the buildings in the farmyard into Farmstead Spa and Wellness Centre, with treatment rooms, a gym and library.
- Restore the Grade II pumphouse into a clubhouse
- Repair the bathing house, constructing a new, single-storey 80-cover restaurant
- 55 Resort Residences in seafront buildings, coastal cottages and lodges across the estate
- Restoration of the seawall, park and gardens and a new slipway and boathouse
Thanks to Chris Andreae for the heads-up. Ed
Image: © Wellington Estates
