Four residential lodges could be built near the cliff edge in Bonchurch (red line above indicates roughly where the site sits).
The plans were submitted at the end of November, just days before a major landslip further up the coast which saw residents evacuated from their houses and a business affected.
The lodges could sit on a piece of land at Riveria Park, near the Shore Road car park, facing the English Channel and near the cliff edge.
The site sits above the coastal path and is up from Wheelers Bay.
Ground stability issues explored
In a document submitted as part of the application, it says ground stability issues had been examined through previous planning applications and there is a structural engineer’s statement confirming the site is “capable of being developed”.
The statement is not currently available for viewing with the rest of the documents.
Stability concerns
With the recent land movement in the area, however, one objector has already submitted their concerns saying, “it would seem at best ill-advised and at worst downright dangerous to attempt any development on this very piece of fragile land”.
The scheme is part of a wider development which could see a total of six lodges built on the site but the other two are part of a different planning application.
Proposed for residential use
The single-storey lodges are proposed for residential use and could have two bedrooms, separate shower and bathrooms and an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area.
The plans have been put forward by Bembridge company Island Escapes, which says in documents the construction of the four lodges has been previously approved in part under consent from 2017.
A mix of detached lodges and multi-storey flats
The site was previously the Westfield Holiday Centre, but has been redeveloped and is now a mixture of detached lodges and multi-storey flats.
Plans say the site no longer has a ‘holiday’ context, especially now the swimming pool is being developed.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 23/02114/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 17th January 2024.
It is also one of the applications due to be discussed at Ventnor Town Council’s planning committee meeting, held at Salisbury Gardens, on 2nd January 2024.
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
