Plans for a new family home in Laxey have been approved on appeal.

The planning committee initially rejected the application for a replacement detached house on the site of a bungalow on South Cape, Laxey (18/00979/B).

This was despite the planning officer recommending approval.

The committee said the height and scale of the development would have an overbearing impact on neighbours.

But then the applicants, Colin Rushmere and his wife, appealed. And now they have won that appeal.

Berwyn is a bungalow located between Old School Hill and the MER railway track, which form the boundary of the Laxey conservation area.

The proposal was for the demolition of the old building and the erection in its place of a four-bedroom family home, two thirds of it being three storeys high.

Independent inspector Michael Hurley recommended approval on appeal.

He concluded that the proposed development would ’not have a sufficient adverse effect on residential amenities as to justify the refusal of planning approval’.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot accepted the inspector’s recommendation and allowed the appeal.

l The planning and building control reception at Murray House is now closed for the duration of lockdown.

A statement added: ’Whilst the public are unable to use the counter services the directorate will maintain skeleton staff in the back office who may be reached on 685950, or by email at [email protected] or [email protected]

’The department is looking is looking at ways that the planning committee may meet and further information will be issued in due course.’