Plans to demolish the Bay View Hotel in Port St Mary and replace it with three three-bedroom flats have been refused.

Turning down the application (17/00976/B) by Red Pen Limited, government planners said that the height of the proposed building, the balconies and the design of the windows would ’not sit comfortably in the streetscene’.

In addition, it was said that the current building ’contributes positively to the character of the village’ and that it had not been demonstrated that the principal walls could not be retained and the building renovated instead of demolished.

The proposal included a communal garden in the former beer garden with the main access being from The Lhargan.

It was discussed by Port St Mary Commissioners, who said that it supported the redevelopment of the Bay View Hotel in principle but said the proposal was over-intensive.

The application included architect Samson Designs’ visual survey, which said the Bay View Hotel has ’not been properly maintained for many years and is severely affected by damp’. The design statement said works to renovate or convert the building for residential use ’would be extensive and costly’.

It adds: ’While the high cost of renovation work does not automatically justify the demolition of the building, this must be taken into consideration along with any architectural merit of the building.

In December 1852, the hotel was the venue for evidence to be heard from the witnesses of the Brig Lily disaster at Kitterland at the Coroner’s bi-lingual inquest, held in both Manx and English.

But in his submission, building conservation officer Steve Moore said little was remaining of the historic fabric of the building, adding there was ’not sufficient remaining architectural or evidential historic interest to suggest that the building be considered for addition to the protected buildings register.’

Red Pen Limited bought the property in 2015.