An Isle of Wight cricket club has had its plan to make more money — by removing a holiday let condition on a property — refused.
Ventnor Cricket Club had asked the Isle of Wight Council to remove a holiday let only condition on its lodge, which is opposite the academy and pavilion.
Plans to rent to a single tenant
The sports body had hoped it would allow them to rent the property to a single tenant all year round, but particularly during the winter months when the holiday market is quiet.
In September 2021 News OnTheWight reported an 82 per cent decrease in available residential rentals, with demand for rental properties nearly four times what it was before Covid.
The additional income would have helped the club cover rising bills, it said.
Refused by IWC
However, Isle of Wight council planning officers said it would go against the authority’s tourism policy as it would remove the holiday let from use.
In their decision notice, officers said the council would only permit the loss of existing accommodation through redevelopment or conversion to other uses where it can be ‘robustly demonstrated the existing use is no longer viable.’
IWC: Marketing could achieve higher level of visitors
Officers say the holiday let is of good quality and of the type the council is looking to retain to support tourism.
They say there is also insufficient information to demonstrate the loss of the accommodation would be acceptable and recommends that better marketing could achieve a higher level of visitors.
Demand for holiday lets over winter
Officers questioned whether there was no demand for the let in the winter or if it was just not being made available as they searched Air BnB and they were unable to book the let from the end of October to mid-March.
They said they were aware that over the winter months, there remains a demand for holiday lets, with the October half-term and Christmas periods popular with tourists.
VTC in support
Ventnor Town Council had commented on the application to say it could see no reason to oppose the plans.
The cricket club said it had no intention to sell the property and it would still be let to holidaymakers during the summer, but the additional rental income would help cover rising costs, like its heating bill which now costs £20,000 a year.
It can appeal the decision should it wish to.
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
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