Fish Bar Conversion, New Beach Huts And Hotel-To-Care Home Bid Among Latest Planning Decisions

A former fish and chip shop in Lake is set to become part of a family home, five new beach huts have been approved for Totland Bay, and plans to turn a former Shanklin hotel into assisted living accommodation have been refused — all part of the latest round of planning decisions from County Hall.

Lake Fish Bar to Become Residential Space

The once-popular Lake Fish Bar, which closed in August 2023, will now be absorbed into the adjoining home at 16 Sandown Road.

Owner Tina Brittain was granted prior approval earlier this month (6 November) after being unable to sell the business despite “best endeavours”, according to a statement from Andrew White Planning Consultancy.

The consultancy said the building’s future reflects a wider trend:

“With the general decline in town centre commercial activity and high levels of vacant premises, there is an inevitable shift towards greater residential.”

The approved plans (application 25/01360/3MPA) will see the space incorporated into a four-bedroom house, with planners concluding the change of use would not cause any adverse impacts.

More ‘Smart’ Beach Huts for Totland Bay

In Totland Bay, five additional beach huts have been approved for land south of Pilots Point.

Applicant Canice Holdings previously secured consent for a nearby set of huts in July, and their agent, Plan Research, said the latest additions would “substantially improve” the site, which is currently run-down hardstanding.

The new huts (application 25/01389/FUL) will have a traditional appearance and were deemed not to look out of place along the seafront.

Plans to Replace Shanklin Hotel Rejected

County Hall has refused an application to convert the former Parkway Hotel in Shanklin into assisted living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs.

The three-storey, 16-bedroom property on Park Road closed in August 2023, with its former operator citing rising costs and a decline in tourism.

Care provider Call on Me had hoped to change its use, but planners said the loss of tourism accommodation had not been “robustly demonstrated” as required by policy.

In refusing the plans (application 25/01427/FUL), the council stated:

“Loss of the existing hotel would have a detrimental impact on the Island’s tourism economy.

"Local policy seeks to maintain and improve tourism accommodation, particularly in locations such as this.”

These decisions form part of November’s planning activity across the Isle of Wight, with more proposals expected to be reviewed in the coming weeks.