A historic island off the coast of Plymouth has gone up for sale – just five years after it was purchased for £6million.
Drake’s Island, named after the explorer Francis Drake, covers just 6.5 acres and lies 600 yards off the Plymouth coast.
The tiny fortified island has planning permission for a 43-bed hotel and it’s currently listed for sale with property marketer Carter Jonas. Ali Rana, partner at the firm, says it offers an ‘extraordinary opportunity to potential buyers’ while the ‘heritage and beauty’ of the island make it ‘well-suited for a best-in-class development’.
The island’s current owner is Morgan Philips, a local Plymouth businessman. He had plans to build two hotels, a museum and a wellbeing centre on Drake’s Island but is now looking for someone to ‘take over and bring these dreams to life more quickly’.
Mr Philips says: ‘I hope to pass on the baton to someone passionate about the island’s surroundings and can realise its potential.’
Drake’s Island (above), 600 yards off the coast of Plymouth, is up for sale. Planning permission for a 43-bed hotel is in place
The current owner of Drake’s Island is Morgan Philips, a local Plymouth businessman. He had plans to build two hotels, a museum and wellbeing centre on the Island but is now looking for someone to ‘take over and bring these dreams to life more quickly’
Drake’s Island has a rich history and was used as a prison by King Charles II in the 1600s and by the military in the 1900s. The island then became an adventure centre in the 1960s and a young JFK Jr learned to sail there on the Plymouth Sound.
After decades of closure, Mr Philips reopened the island to the public and visitors now have the chance to explore Drake’s history on a two-hour guided tour.
Drake’s Island website says visitors will ‘view Plymouth and Cornwall from a whole new perspective as you climb to the highest part of the island, the perfect photo opportunity!’
The island team also offers a quirky ‘spirit experience’ where tourists can ‘hear stories of the Island’s notorious past inhabitants, recent sightings and unexplained occurrences’ with a certified ‘spirit guide’.
Under a ‘future plans’ section on the island website a proposal for a ‘welcoming small hotel’ in the old Governor’s barracks is revealed, with the site adding that it would be ‘more budget than bling’.
Carter Jonas says: ‘The island has more than 30,000 sq ft of disused accommodation, much of which highlights its historic importance.
‘Drake’s Island is allocated for heritage-led regeneration, with plans for a new hotel and associated visitor facilities, as well as marine/natural environment-related research and development. The island benefits from existing planning consent for redevelopment for hotel use, including the conversion of historic buildings, refurbishment of the jetty, and infrastructure works.’
Drake’s Island, named after the explorer Francis Drake, covers just 6.5 acres. This is a view of the island from Mount Edgcumbe Folly (foreground), across the way from Plymouth in Cornwall
