The developer behind ambitious plans for the transformation of the Norris Castle Estate says he will be taking advice on whether ongoing damage to the Grade I listed land and buildings can withstand the time it will take to appeal a council decision to reject planning permission.
Voted unanimously to reject plans
Isle of Wight council’s Planning Committee met on Tuesday to consider the controversial application, and unanimously voted in favour of officer recommendations to reject plans which include the transformation of the increasingly derelict castle and surrounding estate into a five-star hotel and wellness centre, as well as, among other things, construction of senior living units on Springhill Estate.
Fierce objections (and support)
The £106m development was first submitted to the Isle of Wight council in February 2022.
There have been fierce objections from the East Cowes Town Council, as well as bodies such as Isle of Wight Society, Save Britain’s Heritage and Historic England.
However, the application did garner support from several quarters, with supporters arguing that the Isle of Wight does not have a 5* hotel and spa complex (which could in turn encourage those with disposable income to visit the Island); that the castle will continue to fall into disrepair; that the Island’s tourism economy needs a boost such as this, and that it lacks quality accommodation.
Wellington: Inaccurate objections could have been addressed
Clynt Wellington, former owner of Totland Pier, told News OnTheWight that he believed the points raised in objection of the scheme “were inaccurate and could have all been addressed if we had been given a deferment”.
Mr Wellington, who purchased the property in 2015, had requested a 28 day deferment of the consideration by the Planning Committee, but this was turned down.
Site visit
During the committee meeting, Councillor Matthew Price had asked why no site visit had taken place, and was told by officers that they had “not been permitted access to the site on the usual timings” and offered a date further into the future. Officers considered that was not necessary.
Had the deferment been approved, Mr Wellington told News OnTheWight that members of the Planning Committee would have been able to carry out a full site visit – rather than try to understand the full scope of the plans on paper.
Mr Wellington told News OnTheWight,
The case officer said that there was a lack of detail in some areas of the application. Despite not engaging with in any constructive planning meetings with any of our key consultants, following nine requests over 37 months.
“They also referred to other alternatives, without providing any, with no grants available, or Government funding.”
£7.4m needed for urgent works
In June 2023, Isle of Wight council (IWC) served an Urgent Works Notices on the owners of Norris Castle and associated buildings, due to the increasing decay of the buildings. Indeed, all three of the estate’s Grade I listed assets are on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register because of urgent need for repair.
Mr Wellington told News OnTheWight that the council has refused to respond and advise how they will raise the £7.4m urgently required to prevent further damage. He said,
“We are taking advice on whether the ongoing damage can withstand the time it takes to appeal the decision. We have always stated we require a viable planning solution to invest further funds.”
Grounds for refusal
Officers recommended refusal on the following grounds:
- Substantial harm to Grade I registered park and garden and,
- High degree of harm to two Grade I and three Grade II listed buildings
- Insufficient information on the impact on five Grade II listed
buildings/structures - Contrary to the Shoreline Management Plan
- Impact on the character of the area and the National Landscape
- Impact on Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland
- Impact from light pollution on the National Landscape
- Impact on archaeology
- Impact on protected sites
- Impact of protected species
- Highway safely
- Impact on the SPA
- Flood risk
- Substantial harm to the locally listed park and garden
- Impact on the character of the conservation area
You can watch the planning committee meeting by visiting the council’s YouTube channel.
