A historic island off the coast of Plymouth is up for sale, just five years after it was purchased for £6 million.
Drake’s Island, named after the explorer Francis Drake, is just 6.5 hectares in size and lies 550 metres off the coast of Plymouth.
The small fortified island has planning permission for a 43-bed hotel and is currently for sale with a property marketer Driver JonasAli Rani, a partner at the firm, says it presents an “extraordinary opportunity for potential buyers”, while the island’s “heritage and beauty” make it “very suitable for a first-class development”.
The current owner of the island is Morgan Philips, a local businessman from Plymouth. He had plans to build two hotels, a museum and a wellness centre on Drake’s Island, but is now looking for someone who can ‘take over and bring these dreams to life faster’.
Mr Philips said: ‘I hope to pass the baton to someone who is passionate about the island’s environment and who can harness its potential.’
Drake’s Island (above), 600 yards off the coast of Plymouth, is for sale. Planning permission has been granted for a 43-bed hotel.
The current owner of Drake’s Island is Morgan Philips, a local businessman from Plymouth. He had plans to build two hotels, a museum and a wellness centre on the island, but is now looking for someone who can ‘take over and bring these dreams to life faster’
Drake’s Island has a rich history, having been used as a prison by King Charles II in the 1600s and by the military in the 1900s. The island became an adventure centre in the 1960s, and a young JFK Jr. learned to sail Plymouth Sound there.
After decades of closure, Philips has reopened the island to the public, and visitors can now discover Drake’s history on a two-hour guided tour.
Drake’s Island Website says visitors ‘will see Plymouth and Cornwall from a whole new perspective as you climb to the highest point on the island, the perfect photo opportunity!’
The island team also offers a quirky ‘spiritual experience’, where tourists can ‘hear stories about the island’s infamous past inhabitants, recent sightings and unexplained events’, along with a certified ‘spiritual guide’.
The island’s website, under the heading ‘future plans’, lists a proposal for a ‘cosy little hotel’ in the old governor’s barracks, adding that it would be ‘more of a budget hotel than a bling-bling hotel’.
Carter Jonas says: ‘The island has over 30,000 square feet of unused accommodation, much of which emphasises its historical value.
‘Drake’s Island is earmarked for heritage-led regeneration, with plans for a new hotel and associated visitor facilities, as well as research and development relating to the marine/natural environment. The island benefits from existing planning consent for redevelopment for hotel use, including the conversion of historic buildings, refurbishment of the pier and infrastructure works.’
Drake’s Island, named after the explorer Francis Drake, is just 6.5 acres wide. This is a view of the island from Mount Edgcumbe Folly (foreground), across from Plymouth in Cornwall
