Solent Forts development

[Mr Googler]

Little piece from the Isle of Wight Rag on the Horse Sand and No Mans Land forts being sold to the same firm who bought Spitbank.

http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/news/big-plans-for-solent-forts-43615.aspx

Planning given for luxury hotel and marina / harbour area at No Mans!!! That would be an interesting place to pop for lunch especially if you could moor up for a few hours.

Be great to see something done with them both.

 

[Firefly625]

wow, that is really interesting. I am a little sceptical about a marina facility... in all but the calmest day it would be so exposed unless some sort of breakwater constructed!

but great that these forts will see such investment.

 

[KevB]

The marina idea sounds great. Just hope they don't do something half hearted and a waste of time like they did at Ventnor 'harbour'

 

[z1ppy]

great idea and hopefully they will pull it off!

i have always wanted to go on one of the forts, if they manage it i will be a visitor for sure!!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

How will there be a marina development given the exposed nature of the area around No Mans and the other forts? Its going to need a huge breakwater to protect a marina there from the sea and the wakes of passing ships

 

[ChrisChase]

How will there be a marina development given the exposed nature of the area around No Mans and the other forts? Its going to need a huge breakwater to protect a marina there from the sea and the wakes of passing ships

Second that!

Plus, one of these forts fresh water well collapsed so was rendered useless, but for the life of me i cant remember which one it was!

 

[Mr Googler]

http://www.iwight.com/council/depar...fpdf/2kixf55515enyo45lp3ayq55120326031651.pdf

I found the plans from an application in 2004. No doubt roughly the same now

The whole application can be found Here with more diagrams etc
http://www.iow.gov.uk/council/departments/planning/appsdip/appdetails2.aspx?frmId=7559

 

[Hurricane]

It's a long story but a few years ago, a friend of mine was thinking of putting a consortium together to buy Horse Sand.
He invited me along to see both Horse Sand and No Mans Land

I had the camer so, here's a load of photos that I took at the time.

Hopy you find them interesting
Any questions - just ask.

Firstly Horse Sand

More to follow .....................

 

[Hurricane]

Still with Horse Sand

Thats all for Horse Sand






The following are of No Mans Land

As you will see - the standard of finish is fantastic and shows the kind of thing that can be done.

More to follow .....................

 

[PRH]

Fantastic phots keep them coming.

It was on the local news last night - they were talking £800 for two dinner bed and breakfast in the hotel!

 

[Hurricane]

More from No Mans Land

That all folks ....

Unless you have any questions

 

[RAP77]

Solent Forts Photos

Thanks - absolutely fascinating
I have allways wondered what they are like inside
Thanks

 

[DTIM]

Great photos, the difference between the two is incredible and would take a large pot of money, have often looked and daydreamed as I have gone psat them.

 

[ChrisChase]

Didn't elton John used to own no mans land?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Unless you have any questions

Fantastic! Got a link to the website to book!

 

[John100156]

What a fantastic Project, the results are excellent. Here are some questions:

1) What was the main source(s) of energy used? LPG/Oil?
2) Size of electrical generators installed surely they are not cabled to shore?
3) Did not see any wind generators or PV - I would have thought this location would be ideal for both. Not to mention wave energy. Mind you, a sea-sourced heat pump and/or bio-fuelled CHP to provide heat and electricity might also be considered.....

What a fantastic environment for a high quality UK equivalent of Xiringuito's.....

 

[Hurricane]

What a fantastic Project, the results are excellent. Here are some questions:

1) What was the main source(s) of energy used? LPG/Oil?
2) Size of electrical generators installed surely they are not cabled to shore?
3) Did not see any wind generators or PV - I would have thought this location would be ideal for both. Not to mention wave energy. Mind you, a sea-sourced heat pump and/or bio-fuelled CHP to provide heat and electricity might also be considered.....

What a fantastic environment for a high quality UK equivalent of Xiringuito's.....

Your questions are a bit too technical for these forts, John.
I can answer no 1 though because we asked.
The forts are fuelled by tanker so the answer to your question is oil.
No power from the shore - they do have their own generators (Horse Sand too) but I don’t know how big they are but these are the fuel storage tanks on Horse Sand.

I believe that there are also loads of lead/acid batteries and solar panels for the navigation lights.
When we were there, we were told that they were (at that time) changing the batteries. There was certainly work of that type going on.

Taking Deleted User’s comment above. There might be scope for a small marina/harbour on the submarine barrier side of Horse Sand but it would be very exposed.

Certainly not like Xiringuitos, John.
For those who don’t know this is the Xiringuitos that John is referring to – in Spain where the weather is much more conducive to that kind of thing.

I doubt if that concept would work in the middle of the Solent!!!

 

[John100156]

Mmmmm Not Xiringuito's but with one or more of the following: Living accommodation, an exclusive indoor restaurant with high class hotel accommodation, bridal/honeymoon suite, exclusive conferencing facilities, excellent sea views, day moorings available that you can pre-book and/or just pop over by boat (or even helicopter), frequent trips and day excursions from various local ports - complete with its own high tech Bio(oil)-Fuelled Energy Centre that could educate school trips..... What an attraction! I could engineer it...... Not sure how profitable it would be but what fun.....