A planning application has opened for public comment for the change of use from a restaurant into a self-contained holiday flat in Sandown.
The Surfside Diner on Sandown’s seafront has been on the market for the last 18 months, both for sale and rent.
Despite price reductions, it has failed to attract any interest and although a lease was agreed in the summer of 2021, it was returned earlier this year after not working out.
Empty since October 2021
According to the planning documents, the restaurant has been empty since October 2021, which according to the planning documents follows “a succession of leases, which all ended in failure of the lessees being able to establish or maintain a profitable restaurant business”.
Other parts of the building
In 2017 a Lawful Development Certificate was issued for use of the ground floor flat as a residential dwelling at 46 High Street – a mid-terrace, four storey building with road frontages to front and rear. This application relates to the lower ground floor.
The restaurant occupied the entire lower ground floor fronting the Esplanade with the dining area and outside seating terrace looking out across Sandown Bay while the service areas (kitchen, prep room, stores and toilets etc) were located within the rear portion.
Self-contained holiday flat
The application seeks consent to convert the lower ground floor to a self-contained holiday flat.
The accommodation will comprise three bedrooms (one with dressing room), kitchen, two bathrooms (one ensuite), ensuite WC and store rooms. The existing terrace will be retained as part of the development. The conversion works are confined to the interior of the property and will not result in any external changes to the building.
View the plans
You can view the plans on the council’s planning portal (22/01387/FUL).
The public consultation runs until Friday 21st October 2022.
Image: © Google Maps/Streetview in 2021
