Solent forts: No Man's Fort is still on sale - and needs new planning permission

It means the owners of No Man’s Fort, Clarenco LLP, are faced with having to reapply for permission to allow the iconic building to be turned into a house.

NOW READ: Take a look inside No Man’s Fort and Spitbank Fort

Nearly three years ago, permission was granted to re-purpose the fort — which has been run as an exclusive hotel, halfway between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth — into one big house, making it more attractive to buyers.

When it gave the idea the green light, in May 2020, the Isle of Wight Council required the change to be carried out within three years.

Now, it needs a fresh application.

Agent Rolfe Judd Planning said, in a letter to the Isle of Wight Council, permission had not been implemented due to difficulty in finding a buyer for the site.

A new application would allow a further three years for the property to be marketed as a home.

The agent said the fort had been run as a successful hotel in previous years, but running costs and other issues had meant an alternative use was being sought.

The fort, which is one of Palmerston’s follies, built in the 19th century as a line of defence against the threat of invasion from France, has been on the market since 2019.

It was decommissioned by the Ministry of Defence in 1956 and then sold to private developers.

Its £4.25m original price tag has been reduced to £3.6m.

It features 23 bedrooms, a lighthouse, laser battle play area and spa.

In 2012, Clarenco (also known as Solent Forts) converted it, adding a helipad, indoor swimming pool and restaurant.

Neighbouring Spitbank Fort has also been put up for sale again, for £3m, with the possibility it could become a home or a hotel. The empty Horse Sand Fort was bought for £715,000 in 2021.

You can see the plans 23/00292/FUL, on the Isle of Wight Council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until March 31.