By Isle of Wight Observer
Sandown Town Council has revealed it was the successful bidder for a narrow but strategically crucial strip of land in front of the derelict Ocean Hotel – a move it says will give the community a much‑needed foothold in shaping the future of the seafront.
The council secured the plot at auction for £100,000, using reserves built up over the past three years. The land, often described locally as a “ransom strip”, sits directly between the hotel and the Esplanade, giving its new owners significant influence over any redevelopment of the long‑abandoned site.
The Ocean Hotel has stood empty since the collapse of developers Carlauren in 2019, becoming one of the most visible symbols of Sandown’s decline. The council’s intervention marks the first major shift in years, with hopes it could help break the cycle of stalled ownership and land‑banking.
The Mayor, Alex Lightfoot, said the authority “could not sit by” and watch another key piece of the town fall into permanent stagnation.
“This land will have a decisive influence on any future solution to the derelict Ocean Hotel,” he said. “Opportunities of this nature are exceptionally rare, and the council overwhelmingly agreed we had to act.”
The purchase brings a stretch of seafront land back into public ownership, and the council says it will now begin a programme of working party meetings and public engagement sessions to explore both long‑term redevelopment and short‑term “meanwhile uses” to improve the appearance of the area.
“We believe that by owning this land, the community of Sandown can start to take more direct control of the issues it faces,” the Mayor added. “This is about shaping a better future together.”