Saturday, May 10, 2008
Skip Navigation LinksHome

MARINA HOTEL PLAN FLOATED FOR PUBLIC

By Martin Neville - Friday, March 28, 2008
MARINA HOTEL PLAN FLOATED FOR PUBLIC
A view from the water of the impact the planned hotel facade.
THIS is how a new 80-bed waterfront hotel at Cowes Yacht Haven would look if plans were were approved.
The hotel forms part of a new multi-million pound scheme for the site, which is being unveiled to the public today (Friday), prior to an outline planning application being submitted to the IW Council next week.
The plan, produced by London architects Chapman Taylor for the Cowes Town Waterfront Trust, also includes a three-storey car park near the Birmingham Road site entrance.
Steve Cole, haven general manager, said the first phase would see the existing sailmakers and former Fastnet restaurant demolished to create a new gateway into the centre of the marina, with new business units either side.
The new hotel, with parking underneath, is planned for the northern end of the site, near the Red Jet terminal.
Mr Cole said, although there had been expressions of interest, they had yet to enter into talks with a potential operator.
“It leaves us with a uniform space in the middle, where we can hold the Cowes Week and Little Britain regattas,” he said.
Mr Cole accepted there would be a reduction in boatyard capacity if the full scheme went ahead but said, even if the planning process went well, work would not begin until 2009 or 2010 and there were still decisions to be made on some aspects of the scheme.
“We are looking at other possible locations for the boatyard operation to make sure we have all angles covered,” he said.
“At the moment I would say nothing is being ruled in or out.”
Mr Cole stressed the development would be beneficial to the town.
He said: “The trust board’s aim is to try to improve this marina to a level where we can confidently compete for rallies and regattas against the best in Europe.”
The plans will be on display in The Solent Room, Cowes Yacht Haven, today (Friday) from 6pm until 8pm and tomorrow from 10am to noon.