Plans revealed for derelict Isle of Wight castle

After years of setbacks, plans to restore the dilapidated Norris Castle have finally been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.

The castle has been empty since it was bought by its current owners, for £4.7 million, in September 2015.

It is said to be in a precarious condition, due to neglect because of the lack of sufficient funds available to previous owners to keep up with its extreme expenses.

Now plans to turn the estate into a ‘year-round heritage and natural environment-led destination’ resort have been unveiled by the Norris Castle Estate Group (NECG).

In 184 planning documents, agents lay out the development’s purpose, which is primarily to conserve the significance of its three Grade I and eight Grade II listed assets.

A market report prepared as part of the planning submission says the hotel would set a new benchmark for luxury for the Island.

It is estimated the current repairs to the estate would be £16.55m, with added conversion costs of £90.74m.

A market value estimation of the completed resort is £96.19m — leaving an £11.1m deficit, which NCEG will look to make up elsewhere.

Some changes have been made to proposals since they last came forward, with the castle’s glass-roofed restaurant removed and further hotel accommodation added separate to the main building.

The plans include:

• The conversion of the castle into a 17-suite hotel with a bistro, bar and restaurant. A connected terrace and crescent buildings, built into the landscape, providing 57 additional suites, spa treatment rooms and a swimming pool.

• The restoration and conversion of the buildings in the farmyard into Farmstead Spa and Wellness Centre, with treatment rooms, a gym and library.

• Restore the Grade II pumphouse into a clubhouse

• Repair the bathing house, constructing a new, single-storey 80-cover restaurant

• 55 Resort Residences in seafront buildings, coastal cottages and lodges across the estate

• Restoration of the seawall, park and gardens and a new slipway and boathouse

To make the development viable proposals include housing beyond the Norris Castle estate boundary, on the land owned by the NECG, next door at the Springhill Estate.

An estimated 120 dwellings are proposed — a maximum of 105 on four parcels of land at Springhill which include 55 units in a senior living scheme.

As part of a legal agreement with the council, should plans be approved, Islanders would be prioritised for buying homes in the first three months and the Resort Residences would also not be allowed to be primary accommodation.

It is estimated if the plans get approval it would take five years to build.

Nearly 160 full and part-time jobs would be created.

To view the plans (21/02437/FUL and 21/02438/LBC) photos and other documents you can visit the council’s planning register.

Comments on the application can be submitted until April 8.