Former Sandown Betting Shop To Be Transformed Into Retail Store

A former betting shop in the heart of an Isle of Wight seaside town is to be transformed into a retail store.

Council officers have accepted Mr P Sivarasa’s change of use application to turn a vacant unit at 55 High Street in Sandown, previously a branch of Ladbrokes, into a ‘food and vegetable’ shop.

The proposal would result in an ‘increase in retail employment for the benefit of the local community’, offering a ‘wide range of products to serve the Sandown area’, a submitted Planning Statement said.

A Design and Access Statement describes the applicant as ‘experienced in the field of retail’ and as a businessman who is ‘currently running retail shops’.

“The proposal will be entirely located within the unit with no external alterations in appearance,” it says.

County Hall’s decision report states:

“The proposed retail use of the unit would complement other businesses within the area and support the vibrancy and vitality of the Sandown Town Centre.

“The introduction of an additional retail unit along this section of the High Street would not result in any adverse impacts to neighbouring properties, to other commercial uses, nor to the residential uses above.”

A spokesperson for Sandown Town Council previously said:

“The town council discussed this application at its recent meeting and while not objecting to the application, would request that officers take into account the need for the design of the frontage to be in line with what is appropriate on a high street in a conservation area in line with the material considerations.”