Three-Bedroom House To Be Built Near Historic Gardens Despite Neighbours' Opposition

A three-bedroom house will be built on grassland near an Isle of Wight cliff edge despite opposition from next-door neighbours.

Council planners have approved Lee Boynton and Laura Craven’s proposal for a ‘high-quality’ self-build property with ‘scenic views of the surrounding landscape’ off Talbot Road in Sandown.

The two-storey home near the town’s Barrack Battery and Battery Gardens will have a kitchen, dining and lounge area, snug, utility room, bathroom, en-suite, two car parking spaces and a vehicle access and a sea view balcony.

Talbot Road residents Steve and Madeleine Brooks said:

“(We) are understandably concerned about the impact this would have on the surrounding area.

“There has recently been, within the last six months, a large cliff fall dangerously close to the coastal path which is only 80 paces from the proposal.

“Our privacy would most certainly be compromised by the siting of the house. We are also concerned about the potential loss of light in our dining room.

“The proposed contemporary new dwelling…would have an adverse effect on the Battery.”Three-bedroom house to be built near historic gardens despite neighbours' opposition

County Hall’s decision report said:

“The design of the proposed house is contemporary but given the very varied form of existing built development it would not be out of keeping.

“It would not impinge on Battery gardens, and it would not affect the setting of the Battery scheduled ancient monument.

“Planning conditions can be used to protect amenity and to ensure appropriate development and works during construction and occupation.

“With respect to land stability, the site is 70 metres from the cliff edge. The shoreline management plan seeks to hold the line and to maintain existing sea defences.

“It is unlikely therefore that the development site would be affected by coastal erosion within the lifetime of the development.”