Isle of Wight MP criticises Pennyfeathers and eyesore hotels

Speaking on Wednesday (June 9), in a debate on changes to the laws on planning and housing, Bob Seely called for more powers to be given to councils to allow them say 'no' to over-development, and to force owners of derelict buildings to use them or sell them.

Mr Seely, who has long campaigned for more protection for greenfield sites, said: "We see lazy developers relying on greenfield sites and we worry. We want the system to change.

"What we don't want is a system that keeps on giving to developers who then give nothing back [and] who pocket development and then say, 'more please,' like some inverted Oliver Twist. What we want is people who deliver via communities, but also through the nation."

Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely

Reacting to another MP's calls for more powers to tackle issues with planning policy, Mr Seely said: "We have the same with an awful development on my patch, called Pennyfeathers.

"I wish the Secretary of State and minister sitting here had had the powers to say no to that and we could go back to having a vineyard and greenfields, as it should be."

In April, as reported by the County Press, the 900 home Pennyfeathers scheme was back before planners, when revised details for the controversial development were submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.

Pennyfeathers was first put forward in 2014 and gained in-principle permission in 2017.

• Read more: Pennyfeathers housing back before Isle of Wight Council planners

The Pennyfeathers plan.
Mr Seely also used his speech to call for greater powers to tackle what he called the Isle of Wight's eyesores.

He said: "I want the government to give more powers to councils for compulsory purchase. [The owner] of the Ocean Hotel in Sandown is fighting tooth and nail against forced redevelopment. [Another] owns The Grand Hotel in Sandown.

"These places sit empty, year in, year out.

"Sandown is crying out for investment. The Island cannot afford owners who, for whatever reason, keep these empty properties as eyesores, damaging our communities. 

"We need to make sure our councils have the power to say...'invest' or, frankly, 'jog on'." 

In January, an application to refurbish the Grand Hotel, at Yaverland, was submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.

Arson attacks have plagued the vacant art deco building on Culver Parade.

Read more: Could Sandown eyesore finally be restored to former glory?   

What is the history of Sandown's derelict Ocean Hotel?

Before, during and after the 2021 fire at Sandown's Ocean Hotel.

The Ocean Hotel, further along the Sandown coastline, was already abandoned when it was devastated by fire just over one year ago. 

Formerly owned by the Carlauren Group, in May 2021, around 100 firefighters were called to tackle a major blaze at the derelict building.

The hotel was also previously occupied by heritage campaigners keen to preserve its 200 year history.

Read more:

• Holiday heyday to derelict eyesore...then a fire - Sandown Ocean Hotel timeline
• More than 45 firefighters tackled Sandown's Ocean Hotel fire

Earlier this year, a formal notice was served, requiring owner Phoenix Commercial Property Development (PCPD) to clear up the site.

However, an appeal was lodged, leading to a protest outside the Isle of Wight's court last month.

Before the hearing, there were calls for action, including from a former business owner who told the County Press, "sad sites like this are driving away visitors and costing local businesses their livelihoods."

No-one represented the hotel in court but its owners PCPD had previously argued it was not impacting Isle of Wight Council and the authority's notice was unreasonable.

The matter is now expected to got to a final hearing on August 3.

In Wednesday's speech, the Island's MP slammed housing targets as the 'bane of so many colleagues' and said they should be advisory.

He called for a shift from greenfield to brownfield sites and an end to the 'second home problem,' to protect Seaview, Yarmouth and Bembridge.

• Read more: 'Sensitive and sensible' Isle of Wight building target MP told