The Environment Minister has overturned an appeal inspector’s recommendation over the future of an historic quayside warehouse.

Geoffrey Boot’s decision to remove the former Farmers’ Combine in Ramsey from the protected register has been branded an ’abuse of process’.

In October last year, Mr Boot approved an application by Trevor Hemmings’ Shearwater Properties Ltd to de-register the old warehouse on West Quay.

This was despite a planning officer’s recommendation to refuse the application on the grounds that the building is of special historical and architectural interest as one of the few surviving warehouses on the quayside.

Then Manx National Heritage appealed.

And the planning inspector upheld the appeal, concluding that the building’s special architectural and historic interest warranted its continued registration.

But for a second time, Mr Boot over-ruled the advice of the planning experts and dismissed the appeal.

The decision letter reads: ’The Minister’s decision was finely balanced.

’Upon reflecting on the matter, the Minister’s conclusion is that the physical fabric of the building is not of sufficient special historical interest to warrant registration.

’While he does note and accept the fact that this building may be ’’rare’’ only in so far as very few evidently remain across the island, in the Minister’s opinion this still does not accede to the threshold of being classed as ’’special" if clearly its exterior only has a "utilitarian" appearance and one which is "to be expected of a mid-19th century quayside warehouse".’

Planning consultant Patricia Newton said: ’DEFA’s Minister has done a grave misservice to the island’s built /cultural heritage. In taking the decision himself when he already undertook the initial decision he has broken trust in the ethics of the planning system.’

A petition of 761 names was submitted in support of removing the Farmers’ Combine warehouse from the registered buildings list on grounds that it is an eyesore and beyond the point of repair.

The planning inspector did not dispute the building is in a poor state of repair and there is evidence it is incapable of economic refurbishment or re-use. He said it was understandable many favoured de-registration to make way for possible demolition as part of the redevelopment of the area.