An application [20/00433/B] to build 10 houses at Caine’s Yard in Ramsey has been approved by the planning committee.

It will involve the demolition of all existing buildings on the site.

The application was originally submitted by developers Wardsley Limited last year, after planners rejected a previous one for 12 houses in 2019.

Planners had cited the adverse visual and traffic impact on properties in Marsden Terrace.

Currently planned for the site are two terraces of two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes.

Between the terraces, an access road, entering off Gibson Street will provide parking for 12 cars with pedestrian access provided from Marsden Terrace.

In the application, it is stated that the existing stone boundary walls to the Gibson Street properties, the boatyard and along the Marsden Terrace frontage are retained.

The committee’s approval is subject to the legal requirement of making 25% of the homes affordable housing and to provide for public open space within the development.

In other planning news, Rileys Garden Centre has withdrawn its appeal against the refusal of three of its applications for retrsopective permission to sell a wide range of non-gardening goods.

These included ladies, men’s and children’s clothing, dairy, health, grocery and wholefood products, as well as home interior goods.

The business’s decision follows objections from Douglas Council, which cited the move to sell these goods as being in ’direct conflict’ with the Strategic Plan Business Policies, which aim to keep retailing within town centres where possible.

However Braddan Commissioners, the local authority in which the garden centre is located, did not object.