An Isle of Wight coffee company is a step closer to expanding its business at Newport Harbour.
The family-run Isle of Wight Espresso Company is based at Blackhouse Quay and has been since 1990, leasing two warehouses from the Isle of Wight Council.
The two peppercorn leases, one of which has now expired, together earn the council £175 a year.
The company, which runs Caffe Isola on Upper St James’ Street in Newport, is looking to improve its coffee roasting and processing facility and create a coffee shop, visitor centre and accredited barista training centre.
Due to the significant level of investment needed in the two warehouses, the company has asked to buy both sites from the authority.
At the council’s harbour committee meeting earlier this week, the Isle of Wight Espresso Company was named as the special purchaser of the two sites.
Negotiations will continue, valuations of the two sites will be made and a price agreed for disposal.
A paper will go to the council’s cabinet for final approval.
Cllr Matt Price said the Isle of Wight Espresso Company had a proven track record and its plans would create something that is a viable and attractive offer to the harbour.
He said the proposals were something the harbour needs and another step in its regeneration.
Newport Harbour is set to undergo major regeneration in the future, with a masterplan still in the works and investment being sought to get it off the ground.
The coffee company also hopes to lease waterfront space from the council — to provide floating amenities like eco-focused holiday accommodation.
At the meeting, a houseboat owner at Newport Harbour, sort reassurances the current berths would be safeguarded from the plans.
Sean Newton, strategic manager of corporate services, said in the current plans, which the committee were discussing, there would be no impact on access to the waterfront and from preliminary discussions they had had about further plans, the moorings would not be impacted.
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