Red Funnel reveals updated East Cowes plans

Published by

Tom Kilkelly

Credit: Brightspace Architects

Isle of Wight ferry firm Red Funnel's plans to redesign three sites in East Cowes has revealed the full scope of its ambitions for the sites revamp.

Following a round of public consultation that closed on July 23, the ferry firm has confirmed that it will be building 80-bedroom hotel on Phoenix Yard, a new terminal building on Trinity Yard with a new short stay car park and, finally, a mixed-use development of residential apartments and businesses.

Red Funnel said it hoped to get the plans submitted before the end of the year, approved by 2024 with the revamp completed in 2025.

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Plans for a new terminal building and marshalling yard were given the go-ahead in 2017 but the pandemic put the plans on hold in 2021.

This latest set of plans is, according to Red Funnel, an improvement on the initial plans that underwent public consultation over the summer.

Red Funnel has been operating a vehicle ferry service from the East Cowes site since 1861. A public exhibition, designed so residents can get a full scope of the plans, is being held on October 7 and suggestions from the public are open until October 22.

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.