A former Isle of Wight restaurant could become a house, but a new eatery is planned for next door.
The Little Gloster, on Marsh Road in Gurnard, was closed by its operators, Ben and Holly Cooke, in 2020.
Changes have been made to the building since it has been empty, with the former dining area currently used as a residential property.
New, smaller restaurant
Under new plans submitted by the building’s owner, John Dart, a new, smaller restaurant would be built on the site overlooking the Solent, with space for 30 to 35 people indoors.
It would also allow a new business to have three B&B or self-catering bedrooms with sea-facing views and sea-facing balconies.
Accommodation essential to future survival of business
Planning documents say the accommodation is essential to the future survival of the business.
The main reason for the application, it says, is to make the business and property more resilient to future flooding as the current restaurant building is at great risk.
Flood proofing
It is proposed to raise the ground floor of the existing building to make it less likely to flood and the new restaurant could be a lightweight construction and capable of being raised in the future if needed.
The new restaurant could also have a refuge area and escape window for evacuation purposes.
The former Little Gloster floorspace could become a garage, store or wet room and entrance to the first-floor residential flat.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 23/02037/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 3rd January 2023.
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
