Ventnor’s right to bid for Winter Gardens rejected

The community’s attempt to secure a right to bid for Ventnor Winter Gardens has suffered a setback, after the building’s owner successfully appealed part of its Asset of Community Value (ACV) status.

At a public meeting at Salisbury Gardens last Thursday (Jan 15), Cllr Ed Blake, Conservative representative for Ventnor & St Lawrence, confirmed that while the Winter Gardens remains listed as an ACV, the owner’s appeal against the right to bid element had been upheld.

Under the council’s Community Right to Bid Policy, an ACV listing normally requires the owner to give community groups the chance to register an interest in buying the asset if it is put up for sale. However, Cllr Blake said the community’s application to bid “as members of Ventnor” had been rejected due to “a slight disparity between national guidelines and the Isle of Wight Council’s interpretation of those guidelines”.

The Winter Gardens steering group also told the meeting they still do not know whether owner, Kevin Sussmilch, intends to sell the building or what his long‑term plans may be. Steering group member, Steve Witheyman, said potential interested parties were unwilling to progress discussions without clarity from the owner. “We are between that rock and a hard place,” he said.

There was some positive news on the building’s condition. Council officer, Natasha Dix, confirmed that most of the remedial works required under a Section 215 notice issued in April 2025 have now been completed or are underway. Completed actions include cleaning all elevations, replacing glazing, removing old advertisements and clearing scrap and rubbish from the site. Repairs to defective render and repainting are ongoing, with roof repairs and decorative detailing still outstanding.

Cllr Blake welcomed the improvements but said the council would continue monitoring progress with planning enforcement.
The Hambrough Group has been contacted for comment.