Plans for a new commissioners’ storage and works depot at Breagle Glen in Port Erin have been given planning approval despite concerns from residents.

The two-storey depot will replace the existing smaller, single-storey building.

The proposal also includes alterations and extension to the glen’s main car park, including lighting and landscaping.

Approval comes with conditions that the buildings may be used only by the local authority for its own vehicles, materials and equipment and that all landscaping must be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following completion of the development.

The local authority argued the existing commissioners’ storage is undersized and not efficiently used and the adjacent site is ’an unsightly general storage area.

They want to tidy up and rationalise use of the site and free up other locations.

The building will provide a general storage area and overnight parking for commissioners’ works vehicles, as well as a small workshop for minor repairs and maintenance and an office and staff facilities.

Residents were worried about the movement of heavy vehicles (a refuse wagon and tractor), saying: ’The industrial unit is unacceptably dominant and entirely out of keeping with the predominantly single storey Sunnydale Avenue’.

Others said it is ’an imposing Balthane sized industrial building which is certainly not in keeping and will dominate the surrounding properties’. There was concern about the the noise of vehicles in a ’quiet residential area’ and the noise and dust generated from the site. It was argued the space is listed as public open space in the southern area plan.

The bid (18/01151/B) replaced a previous one - submitted in 2016 - for demolition of the existing commissioners’ store and creation of three business units. This provoked objections from residents concerned the area is not zoned for light industrial use, the noise, increase in traffic and the detrimental impact on neighbours. Commissioners withdrew the bid after a review of their facilities.