Frustration over a lack of council decision on a major Cowes seafront homes plan has led to developers seeking government intervention.
The Isle of Wight Council failed to issue a decision on the regeneration proposals for Hamlet Court, on Queens Road, Cowes, in the statutory timeframe.
As a way to progress the application, those behind the scheme, Hamlet Court Regeneration Ltd, have appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate — which will now make the final decision.
It is proposed the building, which is in a ‘very poor state’ according to the developers, would be pulled down and two houses built instead.
The existing buildings (above) and proposed development (below).
In appeal documents submitted to the government body, planning agents on behalf of the developers, The Manser Practice Architects and Designers, set out a timeline and the ‘multiple times’ it tried to contact the Isle of Wight Council with no response.
Since May last year, the agents say it has received little feedback from the planning authority which had been ‘vague’ and ‘contradicting’.
It is requesting a hearing with the Planning Inspectorate to understand design concerns which ‘had not been clarified in the ‘very few comments’ from the Isle of Wight Council.
The council’s planning authority has been under significant pressure in the last few months as large numbers of applications have been submitted and absences in the staff team have led to delays.
The application is still not determined, ten months after it was validated by the planning authority — when it should have been issued by August.
The Planning Inspectorate started the appeal in March and will determine the application by written representations although no date has yet been set as to when that could be.
In the meantime, a further planning application has been submitted for the scheme with some alterations, in the hopes it would be determined sooner.
While the applications remain undetermined, the planning agents say there are increasing security concerns with the building as it is unsafe.
The building fronts Cowes Esplanade and has a prominent place overlooking the Solent.
You can view the new application, 23/00392/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until April 18.
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