Residents of flats at a redeveloped Castletown Golf Links Hotel at Derbyhaven could be banned from keeping cats.

The proposal is one of a number of amendments that have been put forward by Fort Island Developments Ltd, part of the Dandara Group, as it seeks planning permission (17/01275/B) for a four-star hotel and 40 flats at the site, which is surrounded by a designated area of special scientific interest (ASSI).

The changes follow concerns raised by individuals, government officers, and groups including Isle of Man Friends of the Earth and the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

DEFA senior biodiversity officer Dr Richard Selman said: ’It would be best if cats were not kept at this site, which is in a bird sanctuary and surrounded by an ASSI which is renowned for its wintering birds, also with a number of schedule one species nesting.’

He added: ’It is well known to ecologists that building a housing development close to an area with lizards often results in the complete loss of the lizard colony due to cat predation and this is a further worry.

’I wouldn’t normally wish to prevent people from keeping common pets in their homes but I feel that this requires particular consideration in this special area if we are to retain the special interest.’

In a letter to planners this month, Dandara senior planner David Humphrey said: ’It has been suggested by other parties that the presence of residential property in the vicinity of an ASSI could potentially increase the threat of domestic pets towards wildlife, particulary from cats.

’The inclusion of a covenant in residential leases which prohibits the keeping of cats is an accepted and effective way of addressing an issue of this nature, and one which the applicant is willing to implement.’

The location and layout of car parking has been changed following advice from the biodiversity officer.

In addition, surface water will now be discharged north-west into Derbyhaven bay rather than on to the shore to the north east of the site.

In its submission to planners, Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society secretary Clarissa Bryan said: ’The society is concerned that the replacement building will be far too prominent and represent a far too permanent intensive use of the site in the future.’

Isle of Man Friends of the Earth refers to the proposal as a ’brutalist mass of concrete’, which ’is unsympathetic to this area of exceptional conservation value’.

It continues: ’The plans do not sit comfortably with alongside the "dark skies" status of Fort Island or the UNESCO Biosphere status of the Isle of Man as an example of a community living in harmony with the natural world.’

Manx National Heritage inspector of ancient monuments Andrew Johnson asked for a planning condition requiring an ’archaeological watching brief while the site is cleared’.

The application was originally submitted in December 2017.

It includes a 40-bedroom hotel, The Links, with bar and restaurant, swimming pool, gym, spa treatment room and a meeting room.

In the updated cover letter Mr Humphrey said: ’It is intended for the hotel to be sold to an experienced operator at the earliest opportunity.’

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