Restaurant proposed for Isle of Wight listed crane

A £2m restaurant has been proposed for the base of Cowes Hammerhead crane, a grade II listed structure on the Isle of Wight.

The restaurant idea is one of five proposals, including demolition, being considered by developers of the Cowes waterfront site, owned by the Peter Harrison Trust.

The cost of lighting the crane and putting a restaurant at its base could be more than £2m, but detailed figures have yet to be worked out, reported www.ipwc.co.uk.

Eric Holding, from John Thompson and Partners, one of the three development businesses drawing up plans for the site, said the companies were trying to stimulate a public debate about the future of the crane and the site.

He said: "There could be some private funding. It could be that another body takes over running the crane. There may be some money from English Heritage. We have no idea at present.

"We have options and we are talking to everybody at the moment.

"We are preparing all the options so everybody can see what the costs are, what the long-term running costs are and what is sustainable in the long term."