The Isle of Wight Planning Committee gave approval yesterday for the proposed development of the Ventnor Winter Gardens.
Now that approval has been granted, the sale of the building from the Isle of Wight council to The Hambrough Group will be able to move forward.
The committee gave conditional approval for significant structural repairs and maintenance to upgrade and improve existing facilities at the venue, as well as create a hotel by extending out with East and West wings.
Pleased and excited
Michelin-star chef, Robert Thompson, told VB this afternoon, “We’re really pleased and excited about the approval and that we can now get on with it! It has taken a fair amount of time to get to this stage and it’s very unfortunate that the building has been closed and has looked worse each day.
“We are looking to get started very quickly on the changes to the building and also to keeping people up to date with the progress.
“Although we do now have planning permission, we have still to finalise contracts etc., with The Isle of Wight Council and also to finalise plans together with far more detailed drawings with our architect.”
Plans to reopen by summer 2013
Those keen to see the venue back in operation will be pleased to hear that although nothing is certain, the group do hope it will be be open for the summer 2013.
Finishing, he said, “We have received a huge amount of support since starting this project and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you all to the restored building and to adding to Ventnor’s revival.”
