Conversion of cottage use to tourism approved

An application to use Ballachrink Cottage as tourist accommodation was approved

Proposals for a cottage to be used for tourist accommodation has been backed by planners despite concerns about a shortage of housing for local residents.

The plans will see the four bedroom Ballachrink Cottage in Glen Mona permitted to be used for tourists to stay for an trial period of two years.

The approval came amid concerns from within the planning committee about the number of applications coming forward to convert residential properties to use for tourism.

Committee chairman Rob Callister said the island needed to calculate how many properties were being used for tourist accommodation given that a lot of Manx people were looking for somewhere to live.

The planning committee's latest decision follows opposition to new tourist accommodation by Port Erin Commissioners, including a resolution that existing tourist accommodation within the village would be taken into account when considering future applications.

That was something raised by planning committee member Peter Young, who said the tourist use of properties was also a wider concern across Europe, while fellow member Peter Whiteway said tat the plans would see a property being "taken out of residential use".

Despite those concerns, the application, which had received opposition from a neighbouring property, were unanimously approved by the committee.