It looks more Middle Earth than rural Manx.

But this home that looks fit for a Hobbit is planned for the site of derelict railway gatehouse in Malew.

The planning application (17/00540/B) to demolish the old gate-keeper’s cottage at Ballawoods Halt, on the railway line between Blackboards and Ballasalla, has been lodged by island-based inventor and entrepreneur Dr John Taylor OBE.

In its place, he plans to erect something that could come straight off the pages of JRR Tolkien.

The innovative and modern design by architects Penketh Millar would be ’entirely unique in its appearance and construction’, says the application.

This three-bedroom dwelling would feature huge corner stones inspired by Ty Hyll (The Ugly House) in the Snowdonia National Park, and a patinated copper tile roof inspired by Goldenes Dachl (The Golden Roof) in Innsbruck, Austria.

Windows would be ellipsoid in shape with bronze coloured stainless steel spokes.

The lower floor containing the garage and two en-suite bedrooms would be below ground level and hidden from view so that the building appears as single storey from the trackside and the road.

’The building would have a quirky unusual appearance and as a result we feel would draw interest from railway patrons,’ says the applicant.

’There can be no argument it would be preferable to view a building of architectural interest rather than the current derelict building.’

Dr Taylor , of Arragon Mooar, Santon, has owned the application site and redundant building for the past 18 years.

The old gate-keeper’s cottage was built for opening of the Douglas to Port Erin line in 1874 but now lies abandoned and dilapidated with only part of the roof structure and outer walls still intact.

The application states that it has no architectural merit or social interest.