With Failte Ltd. recently receiving planning approval to build 25 residential units, the end of the era has arrived for Sky Tops Cottages, located on the South Shore in Paget.

The guest apartments, formerly known as the Montgomery Cottages, has operated from the site for approximately 50 years, according to Failte Ltd. president, Andrea Flood.

While she said she was happy that planning approval was granted, Ms Flood said it was not an easy decision to close down the guest house.

"When we started this process two years ago, we looked at redevelopment in the tourism sector, but we were told by the Department of Planning that we were unable to build a pool," she said.

So, alternatively, Ms Flood said, the company decided to build residential units. Twenty-three of the units will have two bedrooms and two and half bathrooms, while the remaining two will be three-bedroom dwellings.

Ms Flood said once demolition has been done, she expected the project will take about 20 months to complete. She was unable to say how much the units would be sold for.