Multi millionaire Albert Gubay has had an appeal against planning refusal for a bungalow on his land at Santon turned down.

Mr Gubay had requested permission to erect a dormer bungalow adjacent to the entrance road to his property at Crogga Mill on the Old Castletown Road.

Mr Gubay who is 78 and suffers from arthritis, argued that he needed someone to be on hand on the property "to deal with his needs as they arose".

He said the present house was not suitable for extension or alternation as it was required for him, his wife and their wider family when they visited, and for business visitors.

Permission has been granted in 1999 but this had lapsed.

The planning inspector acknowledged that permission, but said the circumstances behind that approval had not been explained. He commented that as it was against policy which restricts development in rural areas, he did not consider it could be a precedent to repeat a poor decision.