Is it the end of an era? Former tourist and events hotspot the Ponda Rosa at Ashey looks set to be bulldozed if permission to demolish it is granted.
Plans have been submitted, by Mr and Mrs Ben Leal, to turn the once-much-loved holiday and events complex and restaurant into five houses and two holiday homes.
Back in its heyday, the Ponda Rosa attracted large numbers of tourists but, according to planning documents, with the appeal of holidays abroad, trade started to decline.
The site eventually stopped providing accommodation and instead focused on being a restaurant and events venue but due to its location, situated away from main towns, the site declined.
Various attempts to reinvent the restaurant, notably as The Tyrol, proved unsuccessful, documents say, and the venue’s identity was ‘destroyed’, becoming financially unviable.
In the latest attempt to change the Ponda Rosa, agent Andrew White Planning Consultancy says there is no viable alternative use for the current building, so the plans have been submitted.
However, the Isle of Wight Council has rejected residential plans on three previous occasions.
Since then, however, it is argued the building and site have ‘significantly deteriorated’ and the Covid pandemic has not helped the hospitality industry.
Planning documents say:
“Given the condition of the building and the vulnerability of the hospitality industry, the building will not be reintroduced as a trading restaurant. Without a meaningful alternative purpose the site will continue to deteriorate.”
It is also argued there is a need for housing, and where possible, for it to be delivered on a brownfield site, like this one.
The five houses comprise of two and three-bed dwellings, with the ‘holiday homes’ having four beds each.
You can view the plans, 21/02514/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments will be accepted until February 11.
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