Plans to replace Nunnery stable block with offices

Built in 1823, the Nunnery estate includes a chapel

Plans have been put forward to replace a stable block with office space at a 200 -year-old country estate on the Isle of Man.

The International Centre for Technology Limited (ICT), who took over the Nunnery in 2015, has applied to redevelop part of the site into a hub for start-up firms.

Under the plans, University College Isle of Man (UCM) would continue to use the Mansion House on the site for business studies and information technology students.

The ICT said while it recognised the importance of the site for the island's heritage but the development would make it more financially sustainable in future and prevent it "becoming obsolete".

The plans would see the current stable buildings demolished and replaced with two buildings to include eight lettable units, with the paddock would be turned into a car park with a pond.

'Vibrant campus life'

The applicant said the existing buildings were in poor condition and were no longer required as no horses were kept at the estate.

The footprint of the proposed development equates to 7.2% of the overall site area.

If the proposed IT campus scheme was accepted, the ICT said it would provide "more flexibility" by helping to retain businesses as they grow, and "encourage collaboration" between new and existing firms.

It said new sources of income were needed to "maintain and improve the estate and its buildings", and new functions "must be found to stop it becoming obsolete and be financially sustainable to enable further capital investment in the estate".

"A vibrant campus life exists where students studying can be inspired by the businesses at the Nunnery and in turn the businesses by the students," it added.