A former pub and hotel in Bembridge could be demolished and flats built in its place.
The Raffles Tavern building, on Steyne Road, was last used as a dormitory for the Kingswood outdoor activity centre, but has been empty for the last two years.
New owners have plans for 11 flats
The property was sold earlier this year and now new owners, Ronima Ltd, a Winchester-based company, is looking to redevelop the site into 11 two-bed flats across three floors.
In documents submitted to the Isle of Wight council, planning agent Phil Salmon said the building was in a relatively poor state of repair and in need of comprehensive refurbishment — with damp issues, very poor insulation and inefficient heating systems.
“Financially unsustainable” to retain the building
The building is also said to be poorly laid out, with all the issues combined equating to the argument it is “considered neither to be desirable nor financially sustainable” to retain the building, the agent said.
The planning statement says the site offers an opportunity to promote a sustainable residential scheme on a brownfield site which, once approved, could be built quickly.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 22/01334/FUL, on the council’s planning register. The public consultation runs until 5th September.
One objection has so far been submitted, by a neighbour, who said they were ‘incredibly disheartened’ to see another development planned in the area — as ‘more and more’ residential properties had been ‘crammed into every square inch of land’.
“Insufficient infrastructure”
They say the flats on the top two floors would overlook neighbours, with the balcony proposed for the top flat ‘very intrusive’.
The infrastructure was insufficient in and around Bembridge, they said, which would be negatively impacted due to the additional pressure the development would have.
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
