Bay Queen Hotel plans revised to include three detached houses

Planning Committee approves Hartford Homes' change

Plans to alter the redevelopment of the former Bay Queen Hotel in Port St Mary have been approved.

One of the proposed new apartment blocks, which would have included 11 dwellings, will instead become three, detached, four-bedroom properties.

The original Bay Queen Hotel stood since the 1920s and, though on the protected buildings register, was demolished in 2021.

That was with the backing of Rushen Heritage Trust which said the site had been empty since the 1980s and left to deteriorate.

In 2007 the site was purchased by Hartford Homes - the company behind the current redevelopment.

The plans come in two parts and work has been taking place over the last two years on the front block, which will contain 23 apartments and a ground floor space which could include a spa/ wellness centre and cafe.

Meanwhile planning approval had been granted for a four-storey apartment building just behind that containing 11 apartments and a basement car park.

However that has now changed.

Under 'reasons for change' Hartford Homes explained that whilst reservations had been taken on a large number of the dwellings in the 'front apartment' building, sales had been slower for the rear block.

It admitted, whilst this could change if building work got underway, it was 'keen to ensure the overall development is completed and sold as speedily as possible to minimise disruption to both existing and new residents alike'. 

A speedy completion, it says, would also allow its workforce to be redeployed on other projects.

With that in mind, instead of another apartment block at the rear, the developers will build three houses with four bedrooms and integral double garages.

Each will be detached and have private gardens. 

In terms of affordable housing provision, the original planning application was exempt from this rule and so reducing the number of homes, from 11 apartments down to three houses, had no impact.

At this week's meeting of the Planning Committee members noted that fact and complemented the design of the properties.

The plans were approved unanimously.