Property for sale in Birmingham Road, Cowes PO31

A substantial waterfront property with a slipway and excellent harbour and sea views offering a great opportunity for residential conversion

41 Birmingham Road

Extending to around 4,435 ft.2 gia over five floors, this art deco style building has particularly light accommodation designed to make the most of the views. Extensive glazing, particularly on the rear elevation provides excellent vista over the harbour and Solent beyond whilst on the third floor is an observatory and roof terrace where the views also include a roofscape of the town and well as views to the centre of the Island. We understand the property is of a predominantly concrete construction believed to date from around the 1800s with extensive alterations in the 1930s and many of the current internal office divisions are partition walls. The property has been used as offices since around 1986 and is understood the famous naval architect Uffa Fox lived and worked from the building. The property benefits from a highly convenient location, a short walk from the principal marinas, shops and restaurants as well as being only a short walk from the high speed Red Jet ferry to Southampton.

Accommodation
ground floor

entrance lobby

With glazed frontage and curved wall leads into a:

Reception/office

Running the full depth of the building with a glazed frontage onto Birmingham Road and French doors and adjacent windows to the rear elevation opening to a large decked balcony from which the views can be enjoyed.

Kitchen

With built-in units and seating area also has deep windows and a glazed door across the rear elevation providing wonderful views and access to the balcony. Store room.

First floor

Comprising two offices (both sub-divided into two) with large windows providing light accommodation and exceptional views. Toilet facilities.

Second floor

Comprising a large office running the full depth of the building with excellent views and a further dual aspect office with glazing across the seaward elevation. Store room.

Third floor
half landing

Providing a potential study area overlooking Birmingham Road.

Observatory

With extensive glazing providing wonderful views and doors to a small roof terrace, (which used to occupy the full extent of the flat roof until the balustrade was moved.)

Basement

Approached by curved steps from the ground floor. Lobby area with flagstone flooring and comprising a store room,

Office

With French doors to rear elevation, Workshop on two slightly different levels, partition walling and a pair of glazed doors to the rear elevation. There is a brick vaulted cellar/store under the pavement.

Outside

In addition to the large first floor balcony and a small roof terrace, to the rear of the property there is a concrete apron leading down to the wide slipway.

Planning

The current use is as offices. For change of use into residential use there would either need to be a planning application for change of use or alternatively under General Permitted Developments Order (gpdo), Class ma allows buildings within Use Class E (commercial, business and service) to be converted into dwellings. An application for prior approval needs to be made and a number of criteria must be met including (but not an exhaustive list) the building needs to:
• Have been vacant for three months prior to the application;
• Have been in commercial use for at least two years. The range of eligible uses are set out within the regulations;

Business rates

Non domestic rates are payable currently Rateable value of £16,500 which with a multiplier of 49.9 pence equates to rates payable of £8233.50.

Services

Mains water, electric, drainage and gas. Gas fired central heating.

Tenure

Freehold. The vendor holds a 5 year Crown Estate Lease on the area beneath the slipway on a joint basis with 43 Birmingham Road with an annual payment of approximately £450 including VAT. The building is currently leased to Spinlock who will be vacating and vacant possession will be available in September / October 2023.

EPC

Rating D

Postcode

PO31 7BH

Viewings

All viewings will be strictly by prior arrangement with the sole selling agents, Spence Willard.

Important notice: 1. Particulars: These particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by Spence Willard in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing ('information') as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value.
Neither Spence Willard nor any joint agent has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller(s) or lessor(s). 2. Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the
property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. 3. Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has
been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct. 4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice.