Find Out What's Happening To Godshill's Tea Rooms

An Isle of Wight village’s tea rooms and garden will be converted into a three-bedroom house, with a smaller replacement tea room built alongside.

County Hall has given Daniel Palmer consent to turn The Olive Garden cafe and tea rooms on Godshill’s High Street into residential accommodation with a detached replacement tea room.

Plans for Mr Palmer’s house include a dining room, lounge, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a hall.

The council’s decision report said the proposal ‘would not result in any significant impact on the character of the area’.

It also stated the conversion could happen without an ‘unacceptable loss of privacy’ or ‘over-dominance’ in relation to a neighbouring property to the east of the site.

Ten conditions were attached to the approval to comply with national planning legislation, Isle of Wight planning policy and in the interests of highway safety, amenity, conserving the area’s character, environmental protection and ensuring adequate drainage.

A submitted Design, Access and Heritage Statement said:

“This application will provide an attractive, functional and accessible environment that contributes to the sense of place, bringing forward a new dwelling in a sustainable location.

“Our proposal would invest in and improve a tourism element in the heart of Godshill, supporting the local economy.

“The proposed tearoom would complement the existing building and fit in well with the mixed character of the conservation area.”

Three objections were filed against Mr Palmer’s bid, raising issues including pedestrian and traffic safety, a lack of local infrastructure, the detached house not fitting in well with the rest of the village and development within a conservation area.

Gunville resident Brian Brake said:

“I object to this ill-founded application for the following reasons.

“The site is close to a tight bend in the road which accommodates a large volume of traffic including buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles.

"The development will create congestion for residents and vehicles.

“Turning spaces for service vehicles including ambulances will be extremely limited or non-existent, prejudicing the health and safety of residents.

“Godshill is akin to a conservation area where residential development is not to be encouraged.”