Victorian Sandown Hotel To Be Converted Into Supported Living Accommodation

A Victorian villa hotel in Sandown is set to be transformed into supported living accommodation for adults with learning disabilities, following approval from the Isle of Wight Council.

Fundamentum, led by Mr R Freeman, will convert The Fernside at 30 Station Avenue into a facility featuring 12 en-suite bedrooms, an office, and communal spaces.

A planning statement from Brodie Planning Associates said the hotel had been marketed for eight months between November 2024 and June 2025, with little interest despite a £10,000 price reduction, highlighting that the property was no longer viable as a hotel.

The statement also referenced the broader decline in tourism on the Island, particularly in Sandown.

The council’s decision report noted that the site falls within The Bay Key Regeneration Area and its settlement boundary, and said the scheme would make a “modest positive contribution” to specialist housing needs. The report added that losing the hotel would be unlikely to harm the local tourism economy.

Sandown Town Council supported the proposal, while asking for planning conditions to preserve the heritage and character of the building.

The approval includes four conditions, covering planning and legal compliance, protection of the Sandown Conservation Area, on-site cycle and waste storage, and safeguarding the amenities of neighbours and the surrounding area.