Sandown Town Hall Could Become Community Building - As Consent Given For Works

An iconic municipal building in the middle of an Isle of Wight coastal town could be brought back into use for ‘young people and the wider community’.

A programme of external works to the front, rear and side of the Grade II-listed Sandown Town Hall on Grafton Street will now go ahead.

Planners have granted the Isle of Wight Council listed building consent to carry out external works.

The Isle of Wight Council was in 2023 awarded £3.1 million for the restoration of the building and the delivery of a new youth community programme.

ERMC, the council’s agent, said that with remedial work, there is a ‘great opportunity’ to bring the building back into use for ‘young people’ and the ‘wider community’.

It could be used as a ‘space for youth clubs, education and training, sports, and general community use’, the consultants said.

The town hall was built in the Neo-Classical style in the late 19th century, according to Historic England.

A Heritage, Design and Access Statement written by ERMC said:

“The proposals represent a considered and sympathetic approach to restoring the building’s function and aesthetic appearance from the public domain, subsequent to prior approvals for remedial works to the building fabric.

“Generally, works involve remedial repair to existing surfaces to bring them into good order with new railings offering both improved safety and enhanced aesthetics over the existing bolt-on railings previously imposed on the building.”

ERMC said the ‘majority of aesthetic changes’ are ‘focused on the private rear courtyard’.

An officer decision report said:

“Overall, the proposed external works would be a positive enhancement of the exterior spaces around the listed building including the existing ramped and stepped accesses in/out of the building, enhancing the building appearance and its setting.”