Former Ventnor Care Home Could Become 21-Bed HMO

A former Isle of Wight care home could become a 21-bed house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Joubert Properties Ltd has put forward plans to County Hall for a conversion of the former Ward House Nursing Home on Ventnor’s Alpine Road.

Ward House closed its doors in February last year, leaving 18 residents to find accommodation elsewhere.

The proposed HMO comprises a basement with a laundry room and stores, seven en suite bedrooms with large communal areas and a kitchen on its ground floor, a first floor with seven bedrooms and a communal bathroom and kitchen and a further seven bedrooms with a communal bathroom and kitchen on its second floor.

Six of the 14 bedrooms on the first and second floors have en suite facilities.

A supporting statement from the Andrew White Planning Consultancy says:

“The proposal involves the conversion of the property into 21 bedrooms, taking advantage of the opportunity to optimise the use of this underutilised/redundant building, previously used as a large care home and constituting brownfield land.

“There is an identified need for the proposed low-cost rented accommodation and on this basis occupancy rates should be relatively secure, thereby ensuring the future maintenance of this building, helping to maintain the vitality of the locality and nearby town centre.

“This proposal would make an important and vital contribution to supporting the council’s strategies aimed at tackling Island residents’ housing needs, as well as rough sleeping and homelessness on the Island.

“The proposal does not involve any fundamental changes to the external appearance of the building.

"Waste and cycle storage facilities can be provided within the site and be controlled by way of a planning condition.”

County Hall’s public consultation on application 25/00862/FUL finishes on July 18 and a decision is due on August 8.