Railings along Douglas prom to be replaced with 1.2 metre high wall

Work along 500 metre stretch to start in January 2024

Work to replace 500 metres of railings with a raised sea wall on Douglas Promenade will start in the new year.

The new wall will stretch from just south of the war memorial to opposite the Empress Hotel on Central Promenade.

The Department of Infrastructure says it's being built to provide a defence against waves overtopping onto the road as well as against predicted sea level rises.

To start with it will be 1.2 metres - or 3ft 11in high - but there's scope, the DoI says, to increase the height by another 0.6 metres in the future if necessary.

It's a height, the department insists, which will 'allow people to continue to enjoy views out to sea from the promenade.'

Planning permission for this section of the new wall was granted in May 2020.

It will be constructed from 'cast in-situ reinforced concrete' with 'decorative surfaces that mirror the features on the existing concrete pillars'.

Artwork panels showcasing the work of local artists could also be displayed. 

Island Drainage and Groundwork Ltd has been appointed to carry out the scheme - it aims to begin removing the existing railings in January.

Whilst the DoI hopes to have the wall complete by the following September the deadline may be affected by 'the very weather conditions it's built to counter'.

The department says work in the vicinity of the war memorial will be timed to avoid impact on events to mark the memorial’s centenary in May; the memorial itself will be protected during the work.

Planning approval has also been granted to replace a further section of railings from the Sea Terminal to the Sunken Gardens.

The department says this work will shortly go out to tender with construction to begin at the earliest opportunity.