An ‘extremely tired’ and ‘rundown’ former Isle of Wight hotel, being used as a HMO ‘without consent’, is under investigation by council enforcement officers.

Roseglen on Shanklin’s Palmerston Road, closed in September 2021 and is now partly occupied by a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), according to a Design, Access and Planning Statement from Andrew White Planning Consultancy.

There is not however consent for the HMO and the building’s planning use is currently under investigation by Isle of Wight Council officers, the consultancy said: “The owners have responded to their (council officers) request for information, including completing a Planning Contravention Notice.

“In response, they have been informed by local planning authority enforcement officers that they must give notice to all the tenants to rectify the breach of planning control regardless that this action will render the tenants homeless.

“In desperation, the owners have turned to both their local councillor and MP for help as well as engaging their own planning consultant.

“They are anxious to regularise the planning situation and discussions with planning officers and indeed the enforcement officers have indicated there is a desire to work with them in this regard. The way forward would now appear to be for the change of use of the property to residential flats.”

The applicants are asking County Hall for a change of use, including a demolition of the building’s rear two storey extension.

The statement says there appears to be a ‘tacit acceptance’ by the council that the property is ‘no longer viable’ as a hotel, with no buyers coming forward despite an ‘extensive’ marketing period.

Roseglen has been a ‘casualty’ of the ‘downturn in hotel accommodation tourism’ and conversion into residential use seems to be the ‘best option’ for the building, it adds.

County Hall’s public consultation on application 25/01611/FUL closes on December 5 and a decision is due on January 1. You can make a comment via iw.observer/planning-portal.