DOI remains in 'active dialogue' over Lord Street site

Minister gives update over 'unmanaged car park'

The infrastructure minister says his department remains in 'active dialogue' over the future of the Lord Street site in Douglas.

In 2019 planning approval in detail was granted for a mixed use development, including; a new bus station, ancillary facilities, commercial and retail units, a hotel, twenty residential apartments, and cinema. That has now expired.

The area is currently being used as an unmanaged car park.

Vehicles parking on the site, Tim Crookall says, is a breach of the covenant/burden attached to the land. 

Mr Crookall says: "A request from Lord Street Developments SPV for the Department to agree to a change in the proportional mix of uses was accepted in February 2023 subject to certain conditions being met."

"This change replaced the previously approved hotel with an additional twenty five residential apartments and six tourist apartments and minor changes to commercial areas. This revised schematic layout was not submitted by the owner for planning approval." 

Going forward, he says his department is hopeful of a resolution regarding the unauthorised use and steps are in hand to bring this to an end with the owner’s consent. 

The update comes following a Tynwald Question for Written Answer from Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher.

Active dialogue continues, Minister Crookall says, around the future development of the site, 'for the purpose of achieving the outcomes prescribed at the time scale, i.e. the appropriate mix of uses on the site including the provision of the much needed improved bus facilities for the centre of Douglas.'