Plans have been formally submitted for the transformation of a long-derelict site on Peel’s East Quay into a 21-bedroom boutique hotel, spa and nine apartments.
As reported by Isle of Man Today in July, the proposals have been developed by a team including local architects Wilson Consulting and contractors G J Ingham & Sons.
The scheme would see the former garage and showroom site redeveloped into a mixed-use building featuring a 21-bedroom hotel, restaurant, café/bar, spa and gym, alongside nine residential apartments.
The application also includes proposals to upgrade nearby Castle Street Gardens and provide off-site parking for guests and residents.
According to the submitted design statement, the development is being driven by a couple who have lived on the Isle of Man for more than 20 years and have raised their four children on the Island.
They say they have a ‘great affinity’ for Peel and its community and culture and want to make a positive contribution to the town’s future.
The applicants describe their vision as creating a destination which works alongside existing businesses, enhances the area and encourages long-term investment in Peel.
The design has been developed with the town’s maritime and industrial heritage in mind.
Wilson Consulting says the building draws on the character of historic warehouses and waterfront buildings, with its varied height and form intended to reflect the established character of East Quay.
The proposed structure would use gable-fronted elements, traditional pitched slate roofs, brick detailing, black-framed windows, metal railings and weathered timber.
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The design statement says the use of a ‘sawtooth’ pattern along the quayside façade would help break up the mass of the building and avoid a monolithic appearance.
Although the building would be taller than the neighbouring Net Loft Apartments, the applicants say it would have the same number of storeys, with the additional height required to accommodate modern structural and service requirements.
The site is listed on the Isle of Man Government’s Unoccupied Urban Sites Register as UUS50.
The register is intended to encourage the redevelopment of vacant or previously developed urban sites rather than development on greenfield land.
The applicants also point to the Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2022-2032, which identifies a need for new and modern visitor accommodation, including coastal and harbourside boutique hotels.
Parking has been addressed through plans to use one of two nearby sites, both approximately 350 metres from the development.
The planning documents state that the hotel and apartments would require 39 spaces, while either proposed off-site location would provide more than that requirement.
Six additional spaces would also be available beside the development following the demolition of existing outbuildings.
A concierge service would collect and park guests’ vehicles, with deliveries taking place from Keown’s Lane.
The plans also propose significant improvements to Castle Street Gardens, which would remain owned by Peel Town Commissioners.
The proposed landscaping could include improved wheelchair and pram access, new lawn areas, seating, a children’s swing and measures to increase biodiversity and provide habitats for wildlife.
The gardens could also be secured outside agreed opening hours, with hotel security staff responsible for opening and closing gates.
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Public consultation took place in July, with 35 people attending presentations and question-and-answer sessions.
Of those attending, 43% were recorded as supporting the proposals, 37% were neutral and 20% were unsupportive.
The application states that feedback from the consultation has been incorporated into the proposals, including measures to discourage gull nesting, bird-strike glazing, integrated nesting boxes and the reuse of red sandstone from the existing buildings.
If approved, the applicants say the scheme would remove what they describe as an ‘eyesore’ from the quayside and return a long-unused site to active use.
They say their intention is ‘not simply to build something new, but to create a place that feels rooted, respectful, and uplifting for everyone around it’.