A former fruit orchard in the heart of Freshwater Bay could be turned into a tourism development.
Four two-bedroom timber cabins are proposed in a ‘niche, high-quality’ small-scale tourism business, by Peter Sitch, whose family owned the former orchard.
Almost all the fruit trees are now gone at the site on Coastguard Lane — a private road turning off Gate Lane and within the Island’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It is also next to the conservation area and Afton Marsh Nature Reserve.
Plan Research, agents on behalf of Mr Sitch, said the scheme has been destined to have minimal impact on the designated landscape.
It is thought the cabins would allow for year-round tourism use and would not impact on the supply of residential dwellings to local people as more properties are used for holiday lets and Air BnBs.
At this stage in the application, only the access to the site is being considered — the final scale, size, layout and landscaping will be determined through another application.
As part of the access to the site, to have good visibility coming out of Gate Lane, Mr Sitch has proposed a number of road safety improvements including the re-alignment of a boundary fence and construction of a retaining wall.
Land has been given to the council to improve the safety of the bus stop on Gate Lane, heading towards the Bay — but nothing has happened yet.
Mr Sitch has offered to pay for the safety measures, including a pedestrian standing area, if the application and the other reserved matters are approved.
If it is agreed, the safety improvements would be completed before the tourism units are occupied.
On the land not being used as part of the tourism development, Plan Research said the orchard would be restored to help absorb rainwater and prevent water run-off.
You can view the plans, 22/01855/OUT, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until November 25.
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