Controversial Garage Demolition Plans Come Under Renewed Attack From Parish Council

Controversial plans to demolish a garage in ‘very poor condition’ in an Isle of Wight seaside village have come under renewed attack from a local parish council.

Nettlestone and Seaview Parish Council (NSPC) objected to Mr and Mrs Rivlin’s proposal to replace a building known as ‘The Garage’ on Seaview’s Circular Road with a new domestic storage and garage structure.

A spokesperson raised ‘serious concerns’ with the proposed development’s impact on neighbouring properties.

But the applicants say the development will ‘make better use of the site’ and ‘improve the aesthetic fronting to Circular Road’, while being ‘significantly smaller in scale’ than previous applications.

A NSPC spokesperson said:

“Despite amendments to the scheme, the resultant building would remain overbearing in scale and form, particularly in relation to the adjacent properties.

“The council is also concerned about the potential for a substantial loss of natural light to neighbouring homes and gardens.

"Given the scale and position of the development, particularly in relation to boundary lines and window placements of adjacent properties, it is likely that the proposal would lead to overshadowing and a material reduction in amenity for those affected.”

A Design and Access Statement written by the Goddard Partnership for the Rivlins’ latest application says:

“The garage/store is a part single, part two storey building. It has a mono-pitched corrugated asbestos roof and an asbestos tiled two storey element within.

“The structure is in a very poor condition. This application largely is similar to the previous proposals whereby the existing buildings will be demolished and replaced with a new building with the same storage use.

“We have proposed a simple materials palette of facing brick with a natural slate roof to sit harmoniously with the existing surrounding Victorian residential buildings.”

Planners previously rejected plans for a replacement garage and personal art studio at the site in March, saying they would have no ‘public benefit’ and would ‘cause harm’ to the Seaview Conservation Area.

NSPC also opposed the application refused in March.

The council’s public consultation on application 25/00962/FUL finishes on August 8 and a decision is due on September 3.