New plans for an historic Grade II* Isle of Wight building have been submitted — this time to restore the grand property that was once home to a poet.
Robert Camping, from Wonder House Group and Joesph Allnatt Centres, wants to make East Dene, overlooking the Island’s coast at Bonchurch, into a single house with guest and staff accommodation.
East Dene cannot be split up and sold off
Planning documents say,
“This new scheme will mean East Dene cannot be split up and sold off and will not change its integrity from what it was designed as — a family home.”
Restore to its original use
The latest plans would restore the 1820s-built property to its original use.
The grand estate was previously the home of Victorian poet, Algernon Charles Swinburne and also of MP John Snowdon Henry.
Previous uses
In more recent times it has been a wedding venue, hotel, youth activity centre and school.
During Covid-19, the building stood empty.
Proposals to turn the estate into a boutique wellbeing hotel, ‘aparthotel’ and flats there have all faltered.
Commercial use of site ruled out
The latest documents recognise these previous ‘failed attempts’ to develop the estate, due to traffic and parking concerns, and rule out “commercial use of the site.”
The new plans say the house is overdue some restoration and argue the scheme would preserve the building and give it a sustainable future.
Roads would be less busy
They say roads would be less busy and the conservation area would be enhanced, if the new plans are passed.
There would be no external alterations and internal refurbishment would be ‘sensitive’ and ‘sympathetic’, retaining existing finishes and keeping the current layout ‘intact’.
Toilet cubicles and ensuite facilities, which were added during later, would be removed.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 23/02196/FUL and 23/02197/LBC, on the Isle of Wight council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 2nd April 2024.
Ventnor Town Council and Historic England are among those to have objected to previous proposals for East Dene, saying the building should be preserved for posterity.
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
