Major Harrow Lodge Hotel Shanklin Expansion Plans Rejected Over Impact Concerns

A major extension scheme for an Isle of Wight clifftop hotel, including a yoga pavilion, restaurant and enhanced outdoor seating area, has been refused.

County Hall rejected Dr Malik’s proposal for a two-storey vertical extension to the two-star Harrow Lodge Hotel on 31 Palmerston Road in Shanklin, citing ‘serious harm’ to the area’s character and appearance.

Submitted plans included a glazed yoga pavilion, extended front entrance with decking and seating, an access ramp, a new passenger lift serving all floors and a rear fire escape stair.

Street-facing balconies with privacy screening were also proposed, together with a cafe and restaurant at lower ground floor level.

Planners gave three reasons for declining permission, including that the development would be ‘visually intrusive’ and ‘incongruous’, lead to a loss of light and ‘sense of enclosure’ for occupiers of a neighbouring property and on-site parking availability concerns.

A decision report said:

“The proposal would not constitute high quality design, would cause serious harm to the character and appearance of the area and the settings of the Shanklin Conservation Area and nearby listed buildings, would harm the amenities and outlook of neighbouring property occupiers.”

In a submitted Design and Access Statement, Maplin Engineering said the scheme increases the hotel’s capacity to 35 guest rooms while ‘significantly improving’ accessibility, amenity and architectural coherence.

Shanklin Town Council previously expressed support for the plans.

Dr Malik also owns the nearby Chine Inn, which reopened recently.