Office space in the heart of the Isle of Wight’s county town could be converted into two new ‘first-time buyer flats’.
Jon Carter submitted a prior approval application to County Hall to convert ‘general office space’ on the first and second floors of 31 High Street in Newport into two one-bedroom flats.
The ground floor of 31 High Street currently houses a branch of estate and letting agents Watson Bull & Porter.
‘Largely unused’ spaces
The first and second floors were previously used as ‘general office accommodation’ for the estate agent, but are now ‘largely unused’, according to a statement from Planning and Development Hub (IW) Ltd, prepared on behalf of Mr Carter.
Planning and Development Hub said the application had been made due to the ‘general lack of demand for office space’.
Its statement said,
“It is considered that the first and second floor office space is now in real terms, redundant, with a more suitable and appropriate use being to provide residential units for first time buyer flats within this central and sustainable location.
“A number of options have been explored, taking into account the location, the space and the costs for conversion.
“After much consideration, the most viable proposal is to use this space to form several units of residential accommodation aimed at the home leavers market (those leaving home for the first time and needing something affordable, centrally located and maintenance free) or a single person keyworker.
“Due to the size of the units, it is more likely that the occupants will be single or young couples, car free and less likely to have children.”
View the plans
You can view the plans on the council’s planning register (25/00204/3MAPA).
The public consultation runs until 14th March and a decision is due by 10th April 2025.
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
