Heritage Groups Clash With Developer Over Plans To Turn Ryde Tandoori’s Upper Floors Into Flats

Plans to convert the upper floors above one of Ryde’s best-known restaurants into flats have sparked strong objections from heritage organisations, who say the scheme could cause “a high degree of harm” to one of the town’s historic buildings.

Applicant S. Miah is seeking permission to turn the first and second floors of 45 Union Street—the Grade II listed property that currently houses Ryde Tandoori—into three one-bedroom apartments.

However, the proposal has drawn criticism from several major heritage groups, including The Georgian Group, The Council for British Archaeology, and Historic Buildings and Places, all of whom say the planned changes risk damaging the building’s historic character.

According to the application, each flat would feature an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, bathroom, and double bedroom.

The design statement from Dean Parkman Architecture argues the development would make better use of the space, which is currently used for restaurant and staff facilities, without altering the building’s historic façade.

The applicant’s agent wrote:

“This is a highly sustainable location, and the proposed development will result in greater utilisation of underused space.

"The ground floor restaurant will remain unchanged, and the design is in keeping with other town centre properties.”

But conservation bodies remain unconvinced.

The Georgian Group warned that removing the building’s staircases would result in the “total and irreversible loss” of a feature likely original to the property.

“The demolition of the staircases has the potential to cause a high degree of harm to the building’s special architectural significance as a good example of Regency mercantile property," the Group said.

The Council for British Archaeology said while it supported bringing upper floors back into residential use, the current scheme represented “over-development” and risked harming the historic layout of the building.

Meanwhile, Historic Buildings and Places suggested a single, larger apartment using the existing stairs would be “more appropriate and less harmful” to the property’s heritage.

Public consultation on the plans—listed as application 25/01204/LBC—closed on September 26, and a final decision is expected from the Isle of Wight Council on November 27.