The demolition of a 19th century Ryde school wall posing a "severe safety risk" was yesterday granted consent by the Isle of Wight Council.

Ryde Town Council justified demolishing the Grade II listed Vectis Hall's masonry wall on the basis it was 'urgently necessary' for safety and the building's preservation.

The town authority based its case on section 9 (3) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

County Hall explained its decision in an Officer Written Justification: "The building has not been maintained for many years; the result being the roof and first floor of this part of the building having collapsed."

It left the remaining section of brick wall in a dangerous condition.

"The owner was advised by an accredited conservation architect and structural engineer the only way to make the wall safe was to carefully remove the remaining section of brick masonry, leaving the lower section of stonework in place, with no opportunity to provide support to retain the brick wall in place.

"The wall was carefully dismantled earlier in 2024 and the bricks taken down were stored inside the building.

"Whilst it would be preferable to have the wall reconstructed, the absence of the floor and roof, required to provide lateral restraint to the wall, would make this exercise pointless, with the wall susceptible to collapse in the future."

The council added the demolition was completed in the interests of 'health and safety', with there being 'no other reasonable options' at this point through the planning system to allow the wall's reconstruction.

The loss of the wall had also resulted in 'less than substantial harm' to Vectis Hall, the report concluded.

County Hall attached one condition to its approval - that the bricks removed from the wall be reused either during the reconstruction of the wall or during other repairs to the brick structure.

The condition was justified on the basis it would preserve Vectis Hall's 'historic fabric'.