Opportunity Sites and Spaces

20. St John’s Ambulance Hall, Newport Street

* Attractive redbrick Edwardian hall;

* Potential for converting hall and enhancing the northern elevation of Newport Street;

* Area to rear (see 23 below) is currently an private parking and garage area and if both were ultimately developed this could include new pedestrian links between John Street and Newport Street.

21. Rear of John Street

* Relatively large area of private garages and parking, which includes servicing yard for Woolworths on John Street;

* Potential for redevelopment to provide mews housing or live/work workshops;

* Redevelopment could include new pedestrian links between John Street and Newport Street and provide rear access to High Street shops;

* Redevelopment of all or part of Woolworths servicing yard would help reinstate the southern frontage of John Street, contributing to enclosure of space.

22. Victoria Street

* Parking yard services shops on the High Street, giving Victoria Street a ‘back street’ feel;

* Redevelopment of this site along the Victoria Street frontage would reinstate and enhance this elevation.

23. Victoria Street Car Park

* Car park creates a relatively large void in the eastern elevation of Victoria Street;

* Potential to redevelop car park with housing or commercial premises, incorporating basement or concealed ground level public parking if necessary;

* Site links with Duffetts Mill to the north, presenting a wider development opportunity and the potential to provide a pedestrian link between Victoria Street and the High Street;

* If site isn’t developed, the visual impact of the car park should be minimised by the use of an enclosing low stone wall along the street frontage.

24. Rear of Cinema/Bingo Hall, Star Street

* Relatively large area of ‘backland’ which is not formally restricted in terms of public access;

* Enhancement of public access could be provided to allow an alternative route between George Street and Star Street and provide rear access to shops in High Street;

* Potential for mews development of workshops or housing;

* Potential for outdoor seating area or garden, perhaps with café or bar provided in conjunction with Cinema/Bingo Hall.

25. Ryde Baptist Church frontage, George Street

* Church providing community facilities. Building is set back from adjacent frontage of housing, providing an area of forecourt;

* Potential to use high quality paving, seating and railings to define entrance to the church and provide a meeting place for church users;

* Incorporation of evergreen ornamental planting would soften the impact of an otherwise hard area.

26. Ryde Development Trust, Union Road

* Old post office Sorting Office with parking yard on street frontage. The building is co-occupied by the Isle of Wight Pearl Jewellers on Union Street;

* Opportunity for continued use with arts and crafts workshops or community offices and meeting rooms;

* Important to minimise the impact of car parking on the Union Road frontage by excluding or limiting parking provision from new development.

27. Union Road Opportunity Site 1

* Relatively large private parking yard to rear of properties on Union Street. One of a number of similar sites along Union Road, reinforcing its character as a ‘back street’, servicing Union Street;

* It is important to restore the urban fabric along Union Road, defining a sense of enclosure and its reinstatement as a street in its own right, rather than a series of yards. Sites such as this could ultimately be redeveloped to provide mews housing and arts/crafts work-shops;

* To minimise the impact of car parking, new developments should have limited parking and/or incorporate parking in underground/concealed ground floor spaces;

* New buildings should front on to Union Road, creating a relatively continuous frontage of cottages and workshops;

* Where parking yards are not redeveloped, boundary treatments fronting on to Union Road should be enhanced, with recycled brick and/or stone walls replacing poor quality fencing.

28. Union Street/Union Road Opportunity Building/Site

* Vacant property occupies plot linking Union Road and Union Street;

* Opportunity to develop yard on Union Road and incorporate pedestrian link between Union Street and Union Road;

* See 29 below.

29. Union Road Opportunity Site 2

* See 28 above.

30. Union Road Opportunity Site 3

* See 29 above.

31. Bravingers Arcade, Union Street/ Globe Workshop, Union Road

* Building of historic and architectural interest connecting Union Street and Union Road

* Retail unit on Union Street is currently vacant and should be restored;

* Globe workshop occupies part of building on Union Road. Potential for expanding this unique space as a tourist attraction, including it on a heritage trail and/or developing museum in an adjacent property.

32. Union Road Opportunity Site 4

* See 29 above.

33. Royal York Hotel frontage

* Art Deco landmark building;

* Opportunity to enhance pavement surfacing and ornamental planting around frontage to reflect the status of the building.;

* Potential for simple bold architectural planting and limestone paving slabs.