Isle of Wight education centre future plans revealed

Thompson House, on Sandy Lane, Gatcombe was once an education tuition centre and the base for Isle of Wight Council education staff as well as part of the Whitecroft Hospital.

However, the building, built in the 1960s, is rapidly falling into disrepair, the authority says, after the council moved out and no one moved in, becoming surplus to requirements.

The Isle of Wight Council is seeking permission to demolish the building and associated buildings to remove the liability they pose in their current state while the future of the site can be considered.

The authority was given £135,000 by government last year, in its brownfield land release fund, to free up the Thompson House land for housing.

A further two sites across the Island in Lake and Totland were awarded a further £814,765 to make ready for development.

• Read more: Council gets £950,000 to build homes on brownfield sites

Across the three parcels of land, there is the potential to build around 70 houses but due to tight finances, the authority has been unable to take the projects forward.

The sites have recently been marketed by the council as housing opportunities with offers currently being evaluated.

The current premises, the authority says, would require extensive expenditure to repair and modernise.

It is thought if the demolition is approved, work would start in September and be finished by December.

As well as the removal of asbestos-containing materials the interiors would be stripped.

Following demolition, the council says the ground will be levelled, covered with soil and seeded with grass.

• You can view the plans on the council's planning register by searching 22/01204/11BPA.
• Comments can be submitted until July 29.

The authority recently announced it will be unable to bid for more brownfield land funding due to its lack of planning strategy.

• Read more: Planning strategy delay means Island misses out on housing funding bid

Pictures kindly supplied by Hose Rhodes Dickson.