City centre offices to become tourist flats

Office space in a section of the city centre is set to be converted into tourist accommodation.

The plans would see the creation of three one bedroom apartments, and two two bedroom apartments in currently unoccupied offices on Athol Street in Douglas.

Although concerns were raised the financial district was "the wrong place for the proposal", the panel was told it had been vacant for two years.

Planning committee member Skelton said there was "a lot" of vacant office space in the capital and he saw "no problem" with the plans as the government supported tourism "in a major way".

However, concerns were raised by committee member Adele Betteridge that there was a "shortage of proper accommodation for people who live here" and questioned why it was for tourist accommodation instead.

There "seemed" to be "a lot of hotels and leisure accommodation", she added.

The committee heard that the office space had last been used by an accountancy firm but had since remained empty.

The planning officer who recommended the application be approval said the plans were not considered to affect the character of the area, and would help "foster multifunctional areas that support several types of development".

Due to there only being two car parking spaces included in the plans it was more suitable for tourist accommodation than residential, the officer told the committee.

The application was approved by five votes to two, with Rob Callister and Adele Betteridge voting against the plans.

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