After a year without a registered buildings officer, the government is finally confident it will be able to protect more of the island’s architectural heritage.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture had been without an RBO for 12 months.

This meant that it was only able to progress matters relating to registered buildings if it was the matter of some urgency.

In the August Tynwald Chris Thomas (Douglas Central) asked DEFA Minister Geoffrey Boot how the proposal to register the Trafalgar public house on South Quay, Douglas, has been assessed.

An application (18/01342/B) originally submitted by a company called South Quay Commercial in late 2018 would have seen the former pub demolished along with surrounding industrial units in order to build a large scale development.

Updated plans, which were approved by planners last year, will now see the pub retained as it ’demonstrates traditional Manx architecture and is a significant feature of the corner site’.

However, while South Quay Commercial has committed to retaining the building, it still has no legal protection as a registered building, despite an application being made on March 13 last year. In his response, Mr Boot said: ’As we all are aware, there are a number of buildings waiting assessment and DEFA has outlined it priority for dealing with this matter in its operational Policy Principles of Selection for the Registration of Buildings.

’It is my understanding that the building is not at imminent risk and will be dealt with in accordance with the policy mentioned.’

Mr Boot confirmed that DFEA now has an officer in post and that the department is ’confident that progress can now be made in ensuring the island’s historic built environment is adequately protected’.