A former education centre and hospital building on the Isle of Wight is proposed to be demolished to make way for housing.
Thompson House, on Sandy Lane, Gatcombe was once an education tuition centre and the base for Isle of Wight Council education staff as well as part of the Whitecroft Hospital.
Rapidly falling into disrepair
However, the building, built in the 1960s, is rapidly falling into disrepair, the authority says, after the council moved out and no one moved in, becoming surplus to requirements.
The Isle of Wight Council is seeking permission to demolish the building and associated buildings to remove the liability they pose in their current state while the future of the site can be considered.
Gov cash to free up brownfield land
The authority was given £135,000 by government last year, in its brownfield land release fund, to free up the Thompson House land for housing.
A further two sites across the Island in Lake and Totland were awarded a further £814,765 to make ready for development.
Marketed by the council as housing opportunities
Across the three parcels of land, there is the potential to build around 70 houses, but due to tight finances, the authority has been unable to take the projects forward.
The sites have recently been marketed by the council as housing opportunities with offers currently being evaluated.
The current premises, the authority says, would require extensive expenditure to repair and modernise.
Demolition could start in September
It is thought if the demolition is approved, work would start in September and be finished by December.
As well as the removal of asbestos-containing materials the interiors would be strippped.
Following demolition, the council says the ground will be levelled, covered with soil and seeded with grass.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 22/01204/11BPA, on the council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 29th July.
The authority recently announced it will be unable to bid for more brownfield land funding due to its lack of planning strategy.
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
Image: gene gallin under CC BY 2.0
