A ONCE popular toy and sports equipment store in Shanklin wants to shrink its shop.

Toymaster, on Regent Street in the heart of the town, spans the space of four properties on the street — but it is now too much space for the store.

In a planning application, submitted to the Isle of Wight Council earlier this month, Martha James, of Plan Research on behalf of Steven Young, says the additional floorspace is no longer required due to changes in the business.

The space was last used as part of the Toymaster store, Mrs James said, in November 2021.

The building had previously been a house but was split into a flat above and used as an extension of the store from May 2012.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Toymaster store on the corner of Regent Street. Picture by Google Maps.The Toymaster store on the corner of Regent Street. Picture by Google Maps.

Now, 10 years later, the ground-floor retail space could be converted into a flat.

  • View the plans HERE
  • Comments can be submitted until July 22.

Due to the former uses of the building, there is already a kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor so the only works required include a general refurbishment, blocking the access between the store and the flat and re-instating a window.

The rest of the store would remain in retail use.