A former holiday camp in the east of the island should be left to be reclaimed by nature.

Howstrake camp, on the cliffs above Groudle beach, has been left empty and derelict for decades.

The chairman of the inquiry into the area plan for the east, Michael Hurley, said he believes it should be left this way.

A company called Allprop Ltd had argued to the inquiry that removing the structures still remaining from the camp and building a small residential development would ’improve the local scene’.

Allprop has previously been granted approval in principle for the development of a single home on the site, but a full bid has not been forthcoming. Rather, two extensions to the original approval were granted in 2017 and October 2019. The site was given consideration in the Onchan local plan in 2000 when it was concluded that the ’most appropriate option’ was for it to be designated as open space.

Mr Hurley said: ’I see no reason to come to any different conclusion, and recommend continued adherence to this established policy.

’Since 2000, the structures on the site have probably fallen further into dereliction. Eventually they will be reclaimed by nature.

’There are many derelict buildings in the Isle of Man. In my view, few of them would warrant any particular reference in the relevant landscape character appraisal. I see no good reason why an exception should be made for the former Howstrake holiday camp.’