Plans to demolish a traditional Manx stone cottage and replace it with a substantially larger contemporary home have been approved despite concerns about its impact on the surrounding landscape.

The proposal for Pine Trees, in the scenic coastal area of Dalby, was given the go-ahead by the planning committee in a four-two vote.

The application (26/00511/B), submitted by Prospero Facilities Services Ltd, attracted objections over the proposed building's increased height and scale.

Concerns were also raised about its prominent location alongside the Raad ny Foillan coastal footpath, which passes directly in front of the property.

Planning permission had previously been granted in January 2025 to extend and remodel the existing cottage and garage block into a modern family home.

However, the applicant subsequently decided that replacing the building entirely would offer greater environmental benefits.

In a planning statement, architect John Wilson explained that work on the original scheme had revealed limitations with the existing structure.

He said retaining elements of the building would ‘create areas of compromise in terms of environmental sustainability’, particularly in achieving the airtightness and thermal efficiency of a new-build property.

The approved replacement will have a contemporary design featuring two pitched gables facing the road and large glazed sections.

The applicant argued that the former farmhouse had little architectural merit, with extensions and alterations over the years diminishing its traditional appearance.

It also maintained that the new home would be no wider than the combined footprint of the existing cottage and annexe.

However, planning committee member Helen Hughes expressed ‘huge concerns at the scale and impact’ of the proposed development, although she welcomed the fact that it would be set back three metres.

Fellow committee member Peter Whiteway also questioned the building's scale, noting that the bottom of its roof would be level with the ridge of the existing property.

‘I think it will be a lot more prominent,’ he said. ‘What’s there at the moment is almost hidden.’

Despite the objections, the committee voted four to two in favour of granting planning permission.