Plans have been approved for a house in the heart of an Isle of Wight town.
A four-bed house described as ‘high-quality and of contemporary design’ will now be built on Market Hill, Cowes, on a site residents say has been untidy and unruly for years.
Plans approved
Isle of Wight council officers have approved the house, built in ‘two irregularly shaped structures’ connected by a passage, earlier this month.
Eleven objections had been submitted, saying the house would have a detrimental visual impact on listed buildings; would be an overdevelopment of the site and part of Market Hill will feel hemmed in.
Campaign for community green
A campaign had been started to see whether the site could be bought from its owners, Mr and Mrs Lavell, and turned into a green, community area instead of being built.
Five letters of support had been received, saying it would improve that part of Cowes; the site needed developing and the scheme was good-quality, imaginative architectural solution.
Impact on designated heritage assets
In their evaluation, planning officers said the proposal was likely to have an impact on designated heritage assets, but ‘less than substantial harm’ to listed buildings, although that is dependent on the materials used to build the house.
Officers said the house would sit into the slope of Market Hill and provide a more characterful modern development, among a blend of modern and older properties.
They also concluded there would be minimal impact on neighbouring properties, as the house would sit lower than those on Castle Road.
Conditions for archaeological deposits
Planning conditions regarding potential archaeological deposits on the site, dating back to when the site was once built on, have been issued.
Another condition has been lodged that a protected Holm oak tree be repositioned and the development must start with three years.
Article edit
5.30pm 25th Feb 2023 – Additional photos added
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
