More than a year since major plans were unveiled to restore a dilapidated Isle of Wight pier, alterations have been made to the proposals.
It will no longer have the proposed shop, cafe and restaurant features as first announced.
Redundant land
The former Fort Victoria Pier near Yarmouth has been left redundant for many years — now partially demolished and suffering from erosion — after the area was redeveloped into a tourism site at the turn of the century.
Before that, it was used for military logistics — moving marine mines — and was part of a boat-building yard.
Changes proposed
The latest scheme to find a new use for the land was put to the Isle of Wight council in April 2022 but no decision has been made yet, instead, changes have been proposed.
Previously the major scheme to rebuild the pier, creating a shellfish and fish landing processing facility — as well as five four-bed houses further up the beach — included a shop, cafe and restaurant facility.
Shop, cafe and restaurant removed from plans
However plans for the shop, cafe and restaurant have now been removed.
It was said the restaurant would become ‘a sea-to-fork eatery’ in previous versions of the planning documents submitted to the Isle of Wight council.
Concerns had also been raised about the large building proposed for the end of the pier, which has since been reduced in height and size to a single storey.
Oyster nursery and restoration project
The Westhill Beach development is being fronted by Miles Blamire and now includes an oyster nursery and restoration project as part of a project in the wider Solent region, a food and retail hatch and increased public space for events, functions and performances.
Explaining the changes in a letter to the council, planning agents on behalf of Miles Blamire, BCM say the proposal is very similar and the pier would create a seaside nostalgia.
Key element in wider regeneration of the West Wight coast
Miles Blamire hopes the scheme will be a key element in the wider regeneration of the West Wight coast — drawing on the success of The Hut at Colwell Bay and the pier restoration at Totland Bay — and bring inward investment to Fort Victoria.
View the plans
You can view the revised plans, 22/00634/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal.
The public consultation runs until until 4th September.
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
