Welcome store owners win permission for Island home's 25ft cliff tunnel

A BROCKENHURST couple have won permission for controversial plans to build an underground tunnel to a private cliff-face viewing platform at their second home on the Isle of Wight.

Richard and Karen Dance, who run the chain of Welcome stores in the New Forest, received the go-ahead for a 25ft-long subterranean passage.

It can now extend from the basement of their £650,000 seaside house to a balcony overlooking the English Channel.

As reported in the A&T, the pair were accused by objectors of treating the village of Sandown "like a playground", with seven objections received raising fears about the fragility of the cliff.

However, eight wrote in their support and now Isle of Wight Council has given the green light.

The Dances argued they were simply completing a feature, which was part of the original plans for the house when it was built more than 100 years ago, by connecting it to a pre-existing tunnel.

Structural engineering firm Such Salinger Peters stated that the construction would actually improve the cliff's stability as it is built with steel-reinforced poured concrete, brickwork and waterproof membranes.

A consultant engineer was instructed by the council to check the application's claim.

A council report said it was found to be "extremely unlikely to affect the stability of the cliff", alongside measures to prevent water seepage.

It added: "Given that the proposal is a tunnel under the ground and the sky light would be at ground level, it is not considered there would be any adverse impacts on neighbouring properties."

The basement of the house will be extended and a new tunnel built linking the home with the existing structure – the entrance to which currently sits 30ft away from the property.

The excavation appears to have already started, and was described in plans as "essentially a domestic extension".

Local councillors vowed to challenge the planning decision, however, citing concerns about digging through the "fragile" cliff to the viewing platform.

Cllr Tig Outlaw said he was "not happy" but "not entirely surprised" by the decision to let the Dances' plans go ahead.

He said: "We are not going to let that sit without challenging it.

"We generally feel it is not appropriate to be disturbing a cliff which is somewhat fragile.

"Sometimes the decisions don't take into account wider community interest."

When approached, Mr Dance declined to comment.