The demolition of a derelict former hotel in Port Erin will begin after the TT festival, with work expected to take about 12 weeks to complete.

Developer Dandara, which owns the former Royal Hotel, has appointed Manx Demolition to carry out the work on the promenade site, and a traffic management plan has been developed to help minimise disruption and ensure road closures are kept to a minimum.

Dandara commercial director David Thomas said: ’Unfortunately, the demand for this type of hotel property declined significantly over the last two decades. which resulted in many closures.

’The Port Erin Royal has been disused since 2008 and is now considered by many as having an adverse impact on Port Erin’s visual amenity.

’We have planning permission for new apartments and redevelopment is an opportunity to improve the appearance of the promenade by constructing sympathetic residential accommodation, which will also meet demand for new homes.’

Dandara and Manx Demolition say they will keep residents and business informed of how the work is going.