Plans for a unique Hobbit home that could become quite an attraction to steam railway passengers have been approved.

A previous application (17/00540/B) to demolish an old gatekeeper’s cottage at Ballawoods Halt, Malew, and replace it with something straight off the pages of JRR Tolkien was turned down by planners in August.

But a revised plan (17/01076/B) has now been approved because a faithful replica of the derelict railwayman’s cottage will be built on the opposite side of the line, while the quirky-looking Hobbit house itself would be sited slightly further away from the track.

The proposal was submitted by island-based inventor and entrepreneur Dr John Taylor OBE.

This three-bedroom dwelling will feature huge corner stones inspired by Ty Hyll (The Ugly House) at Betws-y-coed in the Snowdonia National Park, and a patinated copper tile roof that gives an architectural nod to Goldenes Dachl (The Golden Roof) in Innsbruck, Austria.

Windows would be ellipsoid in shape with bronze coloured stainless steel spokes.

The lower floor containing the garage and two en-suite bedrooms would be below ground level and hidden from view so that the building appears as single storey from the trackside and the road.

Reinstatement of the gatekeeper’s cottage is a fundamental reason why the new dwelling is now considered acceptable, said planning officer Sarah Corlett in her report.

She said the removal of the old lineside cottage was to be regretted but the chances of it being renovated were slight.

And while the proposal did not comply with the any of the strategic plan policies which restrict new development in the countryside, this was outweighed by the retention of a replica gatekeeper’s cottage, the planning officer concluded.

She said the innovative design of the new dwelling, only be visible from the train, may create a high quality landmark feature adding to the character of the railway.