Proposals have been published to improve the pedestrianised stretch of Ryde High Street.
The scheme covers the section between Garfield Road and Star Street.
Planners want new paving, extra seating and fresh greenery to lift the area’s appearance.
They hope the changes will create a more welcoming space for shoppers, residents and local businesses.
What the plans include
Workers will lay new block paving across the street to create a smoother, more unified surface.
Six traditional cast iron benches will echo the town’s historic character.
Two contemporary semi-circular benches will sit alongside them, offering a more flexible seating option.
A raised planter will hold a single silver birch tree, adding height and seasonal colour to the street.
Six cycle stands will give visitors somewhere secure to leave their bikes.
Five heritage-style litter bins will replace the current provision.
Greener streets ahead
The plans also set out several new planting beds along the route.
Designers have chosen a coastal palette of ornamental grasses, flowering perennials and salt-tolerant species.
These beds aim to support pollinators and other wildlife while keeping maintenance needs low.
A rain garden features in the design too, helping the street manage surface water naturally.
Addressing a tired streetscape
Current photographs show a functional but ageing High Street, with hard paving and little greenery.
The street currently offers limited seating, and few places invite people to stop and pause.
The new designs aim to change that, softening the landscape and adding more spots to sit.
Other elements of the scheme
The proposals reinstate the town’s information board and a traffic sign near Garfield Road.
A remote telescopic bollard will manage vehicle access along the pedestrianised zone, working alongside existing loading and access arrangements.
Rainey Petrie Architecture has produced the artist impressions and imagery accompanying the proposals.
The news was published by Reuben Loake, Isle of Wight councillor for Ryde North West on social media. He said,
“Last week I met with Council Officers involved in the project and asked the questions you have asked me, namely ‘Can we just get on with it please?’
“They agreed and after ascertaining what was blocking the works being started, we removed the bureaucracy that was causing the delay, and now all parties are committed to starting the planning and works with immediate effect.”
