A plan to convert one of the south’s railway stations into a toy museum and cafe has won the approval of the planning committee.

Haven Homes applied (19/01117/GB ) to convert the Welsh red brick station and detached goods shed building to provide the museum, tea room and office accommodation.

Originally constructed as a wooden structure in 1874, the building was built in 1898.

The front of the station (the platform side) will retain its function as a waiting area with toilets, while the cafe will be located at the Douglas end of the platform. The museum will be at the rear of the building.

While Haven Homes is the applicant, it has been confirmed that Steve George, a commissioner in Port Erin, founder of marine consultants EMCS Limited, and member of the Port Erin Traders’ Association will be running the museum.

Mr George said it has ’always been my ambition to have a toy museum’. He confirmed that part of the museum would house a model railway and hoped the building would be ’enjoyed by the local community and rail enthusiasts’.

He also confirmed that he plans to move his office to the station and said it was the ’ideal place’ for him.

During the planning committee sitting to discuss the proposal, the chairman of the committee, Tim Baker MHK, said that the ’mix of uses makes this a really interesting development’ and hoped that it proves to be a successful one.

All members of the planning committee were pleased that the application would secure the future use of the building.

The goods shed element of the application was dropped after concerns were raised by the Isle of Man Steam Railway Supporters’ Association and the Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

The other objection by the groups was resolved as talks between themselves, planning officers and the applicant found a compromise to prevent any parking between the station and the goods shed to protect the visual appearance of the station and surrounding area.