New East Cowes Flats Refused Due To 'Significantly Adverse Impact' On Town Centre

A bid to turn a former gift shop into flats has been refused due to concerns it would have a ‘significantly adverse impact’ on an Isle of Wight town centre.

Council officers turned down Mr M. Croll’s planning application to turn the ground floor of 25 – 27 Castle Street in East Cowes, a property formerly home to the Value 4 U gift shop, into two two-bedroom apartments.

The proposed units included a bathroom, kitchen, hallway and lounge.

In a decision report, planners said: “The proposed scheme would result in the loss of a ground floor retail unit, within the primary retail frontage, which would have a significantly adverse impact on the retail function, character, vitality and viability of the East Cowes town centre.”

In addition, they cited concerns relating to flooding risk, the lack of a contribution towards affordable housing provision, the environment and bin storage.

East Cowes Town Council also opposed proposal 25/00145/FUL:

“The town centre’s business capacity and critical mass have been compromised by the ad-hoc residential conversion of some ground floor retail premises and a scattering of new-build residential dwellings recently created among the commercial premises.

“East Cowes town centre has a strategic advantage in that it is the only location on the Island where a significant number of available business premises are located directly adjacent to a vehicle ferry terminal.”

A Planning Statement submitted as part of Mr Croll’s application said:

“The site is currently vacant and has been on the market for some time. The ground floor is suitable to convert into two self-contained flats.

“This will add to the residential stock of the area. The site is controlled by the applicant so there is no impediment to developing the site.”