A Shanklin summerhouse dating from the 17th century will be transformed into a home, despite concerns from residents and the town council.
County Hall planners have given conditional approval to Mr and Mrs Hook’s planning and listed building consent applications to convert Shanklin Manor’s summerhouse on Manor Road into a residential unit with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a lounge area and a bathroom.
The Grade II listed property, known as The Bothy, is said to have been used as a meeting place by Jacobite rebels in the 1700s.
A submitted statement from the Hooks’ agent, Planning & Development Hub (IW) Ltd, said:
“The Summerhouse is an undoubtedly unusual building in a beautiful setting, but at present, the use is extremely limited.
“Considering the options available alongside the listing, location, proximity to trees and badgers together with the existing physical size means it can’t be used for a straightforward conversion as it stands at present, but without a defined use, there is little else that can be done with it, other than boarding the windows and doors to prevent further vandalism.
“The proposal to convert the existing building and extend to the rear will provide a purpose to The Summerhouse.”
A series of ‘minor amendments’ were added to the application on February 18.
Mr and Mrs Hook’s proposal was not however received well by the area’s residents who expressed disquiet over issues including conservation, parking provision, refuse facilities, wildlife, local need for the development, the motives behind the project, the application site’s distance from local amenities, the proposal’s ‘public benefit’, previously refused conversion plans and whether vandalism has occurred at the site.
Shanklin Town Council lodged an objection in November last year:
“The summerhouse is a listed building, and the application is not in keeping with the building.
“It should not be a modern building on an old building. Members support in principle but not on the design.”
A council report explaining the approval said:
“Officers take the view that the conversion of the building to residential use would result in an element of harm, primarily in the alteration of the planform (by the insertion of a staircase between the basement and upper floor and the partition to form a bedroom with adjacent toilet) and to the fabric of the building (by joining the extension via the rear basement entrance).
“However, this harm is considered to be less than substantial. There would be no impact from overlooking, overshadowing or dominance of the proposed development.
“A revised plan has been submitted which has removed the path and the tree officer has no further concerns but has requested a condition for tree protection during the construction phase of the development.”
The council attached 19 conditions to its consent covering topics such as wildlife protection, preventing ‘annoyance and disturbance’ during construction works and ensuring works are ‘in keeping’ with the building’s special architectural and historic interest.
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