New plans for an historic Grade II* Isle of Wight building have been submitted — this time to restore the grand property that was once home to a poet.

Robert Camping, from Wonder House Group and Joseph Allnatt Centres, wants to make East Dene, overlooking the Island's coast at Bonchurch, into a single house with guest and staff accommodation.

Planning documents say: "This new scheme will mean East Dene cannot be split up and sold off and will not change its integrity from what it was designed as — a family home."

The latest plans would restore the 1820s-built property to its original use.

The grand estate was previously the home of Victorian poet, Algernon Charles Swinburne and also of MP John Snowdon Henry.

Isle of Wight County Press:

In more recent times it has been a wedding venue, hotel, youth activity centre and school.

During Covid-19, the building stood empty.

Proposals to turn the estate into a boutique wellbeing hotel, 'aparthotel' and flats there have all faltered.

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The latest documents recognise these previous 'failed attempts' to develop the estate, due to traffic and parking concerns, and rule out "commercial use of the site."

The new plans say the house is overdue some restoration and argue the scheme would preserve the building and give it a sustainable future.

They say roads would be less busy and the conservation area would be enhanced, if the new plans are passed.

There would be no external alterations and internal refurbishment would be 'sensitive' and 'sympathetic', retaining existing finishes and keeping the current layout 'intact'.

Toilet cubicles and ensuite facilities, which were added during later, would be removed.

You can view the plans, 23/02196/FUL and 23/02197/LBC, on the Isle of Wight Council's planning register. Comments can be submitted until April 2.

Ventnor Town Council and Historic England are among those to have objected to previous proposals for East Dene, saying the building should be preserved for posterity.