Plans for a house have been unveiled for a parcel of land in the heart of Cowes, previously branded ‘increasingly untidy’ by neighbours.
Market Hill could have a new addition after plans were submitted to the Isle of Wight Council by Mr and Mrs Lavell.
Planning documents describe a house of ‘high-quality contemporary design’, and proposals include a green roof, three areas of greenery at varying levels and a roof terrace.
Planning permission was granted for a pair of semi-detached houses on the site in 2013, but it has since lapsed.
Call for CTC to buy land
Now, the new plans for the four-bed house have been put before the council after residents of nearby Castle Road, which partially look down on the site, called for the ‘shabby’ area to be tidied up.
They approached Cowes Town Council asking the authority to buy the land from the property developers and turn it into a small park.
The town council has since set up a working party to see what can be done and in February wrote to the Lavells asking for work to be done to clean the site.
Derelict since WWII bombings
A heritage statement for the new plans, compiled by West Sussex Archaeology, says the site has been occupied by multiple dwellings since at least the late 18th century although they were cleared away following the effects of bombing in the Second World War, leaving the site ‘derelict’ ever since.
The archaeologists say the redevelopment of the land will have a positive impact on the Cowes Conservation Area it sits in.
Clear presumption in favour
They also say there is a clear presumption in favour of development as its current appearance and character ‘is not only out of keeping with its past, but also detrimental to its present setting’.
View the plans
View the plans, 22/00919/FUL, on the council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 1st July.
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
