A former Castletown pub is set to become a house after planners unanimously gave their backing to a regeneration scheme.

Dawn Collins had applied (19/01225/B) to change the Ship Inn, which closed in 2013, into a house complete with a home cinema room and terrace overlooking the harbour.

A public house had been on the site since 1851 . First called the Hope and Anchor, it became the Ship Inn in 1971.

Having gained unanimous support from planners, Mrs Collins has permission to demolish the rear of the building and replace it with a two-storey extension.

The extension and lower floors will include a garage, guest suite, office and home cinema on the ground floor with a family area, kitchen, dining room and en suite bedroom on the first floor.

As well as the lower floors, the upper two levels of the main building will be extensively remodelled.

Both the second and third floors will be adapted to include an en suite bedroom with sitting area and space for a dresser.

An objection was made by Castletown Commissioners due to the loss of a public house, even though it had been closed since 2013 and was sold by brewery Heron and Brearley about three years ago.

Manx Utilities raised concerns about the risk of flooding. This was criticised by planning committee chairman Tim Baker MHK, who noted that Castletown had seen ’millions spent on flood defences’.

He also rejected the local authority’s objection saying that Castletown, as a lively town, ’has plenty of places’ to go drinking or for food.

Mr Baker added: ’Unlike Glen Maye [The Waterfall] and the Liverpool Arms, which were the only pubs in the community, the Ship isn’t. This represents a good solution.’