Demolition has begun at the former Bay Queen Hotel site in Port St Mary.

The hotel, once known as the Ballaqueeney was built in the 1920s and run by the Kelly family.

It is an iconic feature in the village.

The remains of the deteriorating building were purchased - along with the surrounding land - for £4 million by Hartford Homes in 2007 after falling into a state of disrepair.

A planning application submitted earlier this year (21/00085/GB) called for the demolition and redevelopment of the site.

The new development will include 23 apartments [including balconies], consisting of two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts.

This new application represents a number of amendments to proposals which were approved in 2019, mainly affecting the front section of the building and not its overall design.

Plans for a stand-alone restaurant were dropped, in favour of a ’flexible’ ground floor space which could be used as a spa/wellness centre with aforementioned attached cafe.

The new building will still include two tower features reminiscent of those of the original hotel, which has been derelict since it closed in 1994.