Part of a family-run Isle of Wight hotel could be transformed into three flats.
Lorraine Barrett applied to the Isle of Wight Council to convert the bar area and eight hotel bedrooms of the Lorron Hotel at 90 Sandown Road, Lake, into self-contained residential units to be let on the Island’s private rental market.
In a Design and Access Statement written on behalf of Mrs Barrett, agent company Trade Plans said,
“The Lorron Hotel fits into a niche area of tourism – it only caters for school parties in normal times, and only operates for four months of the year.
“The business is not viable at this time, with booking numbers down, but cannot be marketed as it is the only income stream the owner has, and also serves as their main dwelling.
“The owner is looking to take a more diverse approach to the site, taking into account the changing economy, and is looking to reduce the numbers of school children that it caters for, but to still operate on a four month basis.
“The proposal will convert some communal space serving as the bar area and eight of the hotel’s 16 bedrooms into self-contained dwellings.
“These dwellings will be available to the rental market, and additional income derived from them to make up the shortfall from the reduced occupancy of the hotel.”
The document added rental income would assist the upkeep of remaining hotel accommodation and enable a ‘major refurbishment’.
Proposals would also include a cycle store for four bikes with one space provided for each flat as well as one extra.
The application claims there would be parking provision for both residents and visitors.
Highway service Island Roads objected to the application in a consultee comment published on October 30.
Its Highways Representation said,
“The proposals envisaged in this application have implications affecting the highway network due to the limited number of proposed on-site car parking spaces and the lack of evidence that the proposed development would not result in parking demand being displaced onto the surrounding highway network to the detriment of highway safety.”
View the plans
The plans can be viewed on the council’s planning register (24/01592/FUL).
The public consultation runs until 29th November 2024.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
