Shanklin Hotel Conversion Refused Amid Fears For Tourism Sector

A bid to replace a former Isle of Wight hotel with a 13-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities or mental health needs has been refused.

Care provider Call on Me’s change of use application to convert the erstwhile Parkway Hotel on Shanklin’s Park Road into assisted living accommodation was rejected by planners.

The Isle of Wight Council’s decision report said the loss of the hotel would have a ‘detrimental impact’ on the Island’s tourism industry.

According to the applicant’s agent, Paul Stack Planning, the three storey, 16-bedroom premises closed in August 2023.

The Parkway Hotel ceased trading after becoming financially unviable – a result of ‘rising operational costs’ and a ‘significant decline’ in tourism, its former operator said.

A Planning, Design and Access Statement said:

“Call on Me has been trading for four years…they have received positive feedback, especially around reducing packages of support by focusing individuals on achieving goals in a proactive way and positively managing risks.

“The age range is anticipated to be 18–54-year-olds with a learning disability or mental health need, whilst developing a pathway option for 16–25-year-olds.”

The Parkway Hotel ceased trading after becoming financially unviable – a result of ‘rising operational costs’ and a ‘significant decline’ in tourism, according to its former operator.

Deciding on application 25/01427/FUL, County Hall said planning policy allows for the loss of tourism accommodation where it can be ‘robustly evidenced’ the current use is unviable.

“In this case, it is considered this has not been robustly demonstrated and therefore loss of the existing hotel would have a detrimental impact on the Island’s tourism economy contrary to local planning policy which seeks to maintain and improve tourism accommodation, particularly in locations such as this,” planners said.