Plans unveiled for 'Westmoreland Village' development

Based on the 20-minute neighbourhood concept

Plans for a major new village style development in Douglas – based on the 20-minute neighbourhood concept - have been unveiled.

The Manx Development Corporation wants to regenerate Westmoreland Road, and Demesne Road, by building 133 homes, 20,000 square feet of office space and four retail units.

A community pavilion will also be built and the scheme, first mooted by the chief minister in July last year, will utilise the latest solar and heat pump technology.

It will be known as ‘Westmoreland Village’ with the idea being that residents’ everyday needs can be met locally within a 10-minute journey.

According to the MDC, which is working to transform brownfield sites, the scheme will encourage people to become more active and improve their mental health and physical health.

It also claims it will reduce traffic and enable shops and businesses to ‘thrive’ as well as allowing people to ‘see more of their neighbours’ thereby ‘strengthening community bonds’.

Sean Gilbert is chair of the board and said: ”We are particularly delighted with how well the design for ‘Westmoreland Village’ has progressed; integrating into the existing fabric of Douglas, providing revitalisation and regeneration of the Westmoreland Road area.

“It is a pleasure to be able to provide new build contemporary homes that will deliver sustainable living in a town-centre location, and to reimagine another iconic Manx building in the form of Crookall House.”

A public consultation, on the scheme, will be held before the designs are submitted to planning.

Two drop-in sessions will be held at the Douglas Lawn Tennis Club on Kensington Road, on 27 January (3.30pm to 6pm) and 28 January (11am to 3pm).