Affordable flats plan for former Freshwater post office

Signed, sealed, not yet delivered — the former post office in Freshwater could become seven flats.

Sitting in the centre of Freshwater, the former Royal Mail sorting and post office, next to Hurst’s, has been on the market several times but now the new owner wants to turn the building into flats.

Applying to the Isle of Wight Council for planning permission, Mr Steadman-Lloyd is asking to turn the site into five one-bedroom and two studio flats, over three floors, suitable for those looking for affordable rents.

In planning documents, agents say it would suit young, single people and couples looking for independent living at low cost due to the lack of a garden or lift.

After Royal Mail centralised its sorting offices, the company auctioned off the site and it has since become a craft market, ice cream parlour and shop.

Planning permission was previously granted to allow the building to be converted into five flats in 2018 but the schemes didn’t go ahead.

Now, new plans, with a new owner of the building, are looking to ‘deliver a better outcome’ for the building rather than the previous plans or leaving it in its currently unused state.

Planning agents said: “This scheme has the potential to bring to a successful conclusion the redevelopment opportunity created by the Royal Mail’s relocation from the building many years ago.”

To read more of the plans or to comment you can visit the Isle of Wight Council’s planning portal, searching 20/01407/FUL.