Hotel Plan Recommended for Approval

A planning officer has advised that an application to demolish the former Salvation Army Citadel and replace it with a hotel should be given the go-ahead, however the final decision will be for the planning committee.

Keith Lord, of Hesketh Investment Limited, wants to build his new hotel in Douglas’ Lord Street.

The proposed hotel would have a rooftop plant room, with four floors above ground, a ground floor and a basement level floor; accommodating forty-four bedrooms on the upper floors, with a restaurant, small bar area and reception foyer on the ground floor. Staff facilities and additional storage are in the small basement area.

In his application, Mr Lord says the hotel would create 16 full-time jobs ‘within a range of occupations and skill levels with an average annual salary of £30K’.

With plans due to go before planners on Monday, the principal planner has recommended that they approve the plans, subject to some agreements being in place around bin storage, materials used and highway/walkway measures are in place.

While there were objections to the plans, including from neighbouring businesses who fear the impact the works could have on their own operations, as well as people who wanted to see the Citadel retained and repurposed, the planner has given his backing to the plans.

Douglas Council has also given its support to the proposal as a statutory consultee, while Visit Isle of Man also supported the development as it will help with the gov’s plan to grow tourism.

The planning committee with make a ruling on the plans on Monday morning.

You can read the report here.