Approval in principle has been granted for a new 80-bed care home in Onchan.

The application (17/00684/A), submitted by Howstrake Developments Ltd is for an L-shaped building on King Edward Road.

Support documents provided to planners by John Stockill of London based DWA architects state the building, with views overlooking the bay, would be split into wings to create independent areas to care for the needs of residents in the blocks.

The care home would employ a maximum of 24 day time care staff, with fewer in the night and have parking spaces for up to 35 vehicles, including disabled parking.

In granting the permission in principle, Jennifer Chance, director of planning and building control, outlined several conditions that Howstrake Developments Ltd (HDT) must adhere to in its future application to build on the site.

Several of the conditions relate to the protecton of lizards which have previously been identified in the area.

As a result HDT must ’include a method statement that specifically deals with the protection of, and mitigation measures to limit the impact of development on, lizards must be submitted to and agreed by the department’.

Dr Richard Selman, senior biodiversity officer at the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture stated in his submission to planners that the lizards must be protected ’against the effects of development during works’.

Other conditions HDT will have to adhere to is to ’demonstrate that the route of the existing footpath (along the south boundary) is unaffected by the proposed development’.

A future application must also demonstrate how parking, cycle parking, disability spaces and a turning space will be provided.