Two well-known buildings have been issued with Building Preservation Notices to temporarily protect their future.

The government issued the notices on the Cosy Nook cafe on Shore Road in Port Erin, and Trafalgar House, South Quay in Douglas, on Tuesday.

Port Erin Commissioners recently voted to demolish the Cosy Nook, which is the subject of a planning application to demolish and replace the building with a new facility.

The commissioners backed a plan to demolish the cafe, which shut last year.

They wanted to build an Art Deco building in its place. The proposal is currently being considered by the planning committee.

The proposal was met with anger from a number of people in the area, including the Rushen Heritage Trust, which called for a rethink.

It conducted online polls whose respondents overwhelmingly opposed the proposals.

The plan is also opposed by the principal registered buildings officer, Ross Brazier, the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture and the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

Commissioner Adrian Tinkler has also voiced his opposition to his colleagues’ decision to replace the building in a letter in today’s Manx Independent. See page 16.

Local MHK Juan Watterson said: ’I’m delighted by the stay of execution for these historic buildings until they are assessed. It is important that there is a full assessment of the merits of the case, and it is a great relief that they are no longer under immediate threat.

’It is still important that people submit the reasons for preserving these historic buildings.’

Concerns have also been raised that Trafalgar House, which is thought to be around 200 years old, is at risk from damage due to its proximity to nearby demolition works.

The pub on the site shut almost 11 years ago.

As this week’s Isle of Man Examiner reported, the Manx Heritage Foundation voiced fears for the future of the building after work began on adjacent warehouses.

The site does have planning permission for flats, a wine bar offices, a gym and shops. But that hasn’t yet gone ahead.

Both the Cosy Nook and the Trafalgar have been publicly backed to receive registered status as buildings that have special architectural or historical interest.

The notices do not mean the buildings will be registered but they do allow time for further investigations to be carried out so they can be considered for entry to the Protected Buildings Register in 2021.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’The department’s operational policy gives priority to buildings that are at risk from total loss or damage. Based on the information submitted in these cases it was considered that the buildings are worthy of further assessment and consideration.’

’The notices [which were issued on Tuesday] will safeguard their future until all investigations are carried out. This may result in the issuing of Proposal to Register Notices which will enable further comment on the buildings’ special architectural or historic interest.’

The BPNs take immediate effect and the government will now study the buildings with a view to the possibility of permanent protection.