Multi-million pound plans to build a four-star plus hotel and 40 apartments at Fort Island, Derbyhaven has the support of Malew Parish Commissioners.

However the proposal, (17/01265/B )submitted by Fort Island Developments Ltd (part of the Dandara Group) provoked a number of objections from the Derbyhaven Residents’ Society.

Fort Island Developments said the scheme would bring ’significant, environmental, economic and social benefits to both the local area and the island as a whole’.

In its place would be built The Links Hotel with 40 bedrooms, a spacious hotel lobby, a bar and restaurant with panoramic views over the sea, swimming pool, gym, spa treatment rooms and a meeting room arranged on the ground floor around a landscaped courtyard.

Under the proposals, the ’disused, deteriorating and unsightly’ Castletown Golf Links Hotel, closed since 2007, will be demolished.

Derbyhaven Residents’ Society said the planned building ’is simply far too large’.

The Area Plan for the south states that Derbyhaven is ’an unsustainable location for development.

Yet, the planning application calls for a village of 40 residences to be built next to it, using the same roads and services.’

They are also worried about the proposed foul drainage system and how the development will affect water quality, which is the best in the island.

The traffic will increase by about 40%, affecting ’the peace and calm of Derbyhaven’.

Fort Island Developments Ltd will facilitate the operation of the new ’Links Hotel’ for three years and then exit the development.

The society asked: What happens if the hotel could not be operated profitably after this?

The society added: ’It is significant that the hotel rooms have the worst views as they are only at ground level. The prime views at this wonderful location are preserved for the people buying the apartments.

’It is clear where FIDL is placing its priorities and supports the suspicion that they are much more interested in an apartment development, which generates instant income, than in trying to make a success of a hotel as a long-term investment from which many could benefit.’

The society also said that ’a smaller hotel and restaurant in keeping with the landscape would be much less expensive to build, less visually intrusive for the locals, visitors and the tourism industry and more economically successful.’

Other comments received by planners are concerns about the impact on the house martin colony and requests for man-made nest boxes to be built and another asked for measures be taken to protect an eelgrass bed.

Representatives attended Castletown Commissioners’ meeting on Monday.

However the authority made it clear they have little say as the proposal is in Malew, not Castletown.

Commissioner Carol Quine said: ’We need to be seen to support Malew Parish Commissioners.’

Commissioners’ chairman Colin Leather said: ’It will be a huge benefit to Castletown.

’It’s for the residents of Malew to lobby their representatives.

’The comment about the impact of a traffic increase by 40% is nonsense.

’When the old hotel was open there was plenty of traffic, it’s just nit picking.’