regeneration e news august 2014
DESCRIPTION
An update on the Isle of Man's Town and Village Regeneration schemeTRANSCRIPT
RegenerationUpdate
Government’s Regeneration Scheme is continuing
to deliver improvements to the commercial
centres of the Island’s towns and villages in
order to support businesses and economic growth.
This publication provides an update on the
progress being achieved.
August 2014
Market Square proposals seek to enhance one of Island’s most visited areas
Regeneration a catalyst
for future prosperity
CASTLETOWN
“ “I am pleased to see prospects of other
economic activity in the private sector
— Richard Ronan MHK, Committee Chairman
FLEXIBLE SPACE: The proposed design for Castletown Square
will provide flexibility, allowing the level of parking and open
space to be managed easily and on demand
With the GeorgeLane projectcompleted, the
Castletown RegenerationCommittee has been verybusy working on its plansfor an enhancementscheme for Market Squareand is now awaiting adecision on its recentlysubmitted planningapplication.
The proposals seek to
enhance the quality of one of
the most visited parts of the
Island by providing a flexible
area that can adapt quickly to
meet the needs of the
community.
More public space will be
provided for pedestrians and
events as part of a scheme
which allows parking to be
increased or decreased on
demand.
Crucially, the proposal will
mean that it will not be
necessary to close off the
entire Square to vehicles
during all events. Instead,
smaller events will be able to
be accommodated by a
permanent space adjacent to
the Castle and only larger
events will require parking to
be suspended.
Castletown Commissioners
have already released parking
in George Paddock to more
than make up for any loss of
parking in the Square. To
support this, the recently
upgraded George Lane now
provides an attractive
pedestrian link into the Square
from the George Paddock
parking area.
High quality stone paving,
Continued on page 3
Port St Mary has aunique new visitorattraction in the form
of a heritage trail made upof a series of informationsigns which provideinteresting facts, historyand images about the Port.
The scheme was led by the
Local Authority and Business
Association which successfully
secured regeneration funding
for the project.
Michelle Haywood, of Port
St Mary Business Association
commented: ‘The idea was to
provide visitors and residents
with more information on Port
St Mary in an easy to use way.
But even more exciting is the
way in which the heritage trail
encourages people to walk
around the Port and discover
more about its history. The trail
has proven to be very popular,
so much so that we are adding
two signs in order to extend it.’
Phil Gawne MHK, Chairman
of the South West
Regeneration Committee
Flexible space will
adapt to meet
community needs
SOUTH WEST
PUBLIC FEEDBACK: Two public exhibitions have been held in
the Square to explain the plans and to allow people to share
their feedback
increased seating and low
energy lighting will be used to
make the most of the historic
setting and show off the town’s
assets.
Richard Ronan MHK,
Chairman of the Castletown
Regeneration Committee
commented: ‘I am pleased to
announce plans to transform
Market Square and the Parade
are now complete, marking the
culmination of two and a half
years of hard work by the
Committee and extensive
public consultation. I have
been keen to bring together
various sectors of the
community to ensure that this
important project meets a
range of requirements and I
am grateful for the time and
effort that everyone has put in.’
He added: ‘This will be a
catalyst for Castletown’s future
prosperity and will link in with
plans by others such as Manx
National Heritage which is
bringing forward a scheme for
the Castle Rushen Speaker’s
Garden. I am also pleased to
see prospects of other
economic activity in the private
sector which will complement
the regeneration scheme.’
Continued on page 4
Continued from page 2
Heritage trail highlights
Port’s many attractions
added: ‘The Heritage Trail
project was locally driven
which shows in the care and
attention taken to compile the
information on display. By
encouraging people to spend a
little more time in the Port it is
hoped that businesses will
benefit.’
He added: ‘Smaller projects
such as this will help to support
the larger planned
infrastructure schemes and in
combination will add to the
quality and uniqueness of each
Port’.
The South West
Regeneration Committee has
also been busy bringing
forward two projects aimed at
enhancing Port St Mary and
Port Erin and these have now
moved closer to being
implemented with the project
teams being appointed.
Under the plans, Port Erin
Railway Station will become
the main transport hub for the
town achieved through making
the outside space more
attractive and allowing buses
to arrive and depart from
outside the station.
This will mean that footfall
Projects will add to
quality and unique
character of Ports
Continued from page 3
LOOKING GOOD: This property in Port St Mary has benefited
from external improvements part-funded by the Regeneration
Scheme
SIGN OF THE TIMES: One of the Heritage Trail signs that are
proving popular in Port St Mary
“ “
By encouraging people to spend a little
more time in the Port it is hoped that
businesses will benefit
— Phil Gawne MHK, Committee Chairman
will be directed to the town
centre and will make it easier
to make connecting journeys
from the steam train to a bus
and vice versa.
In Port St Mary, the paving
around the retail area on Bay
View Road will be replaced
with high quality materials to
make it more attractive to
those visiting the shops.
In addition to these larger
schemes, the Committee has
been looking at public art to
add excitement and interest to
each Port.
NATIONAL PRIDE: The regenerated area in the town centre became a focal point of Ramsey’s National Week
New businesses, shops and restaurants popping up in Ramsey at a rapid rate
Projects help to create a
real buzz about the town
RAMSEY
Ramsey has beenseeing some veryexciting changes
over the last year or so.Not only has the areaaround the Courthousebeen transformed intowhat is now undoubtedlythe heart of the town, newbusinesses in the form ofshops and restaurants havebeen popping up at a rapidrate.
There is a real buzz about
the town which is an excellent
example of what can be
achieved when stakeholders
work together.
And works are continuing
along Parliament Street with
wider pavements, traffic
calming and new street
furniture being provided to give
an enhanced experience for
those visiting the thriving town
centre.
And the shops within the
retail area have also been
getting spruced up. These
include Feltons, a long
standing landmark building
which has received a fresh coat
“ “
I hope the people of Ramsey will
continue to support these efforts to
revitalise the town
— Allan Bell MHK, Committee Chairman
of paint and Sadler and
Vanderplank who now occupy
their smart new premises on
Parliament Street.
One of the real talking
points of the Ramsey
regeneration story is the piece
of public art that the
Commissioners have placed
outside the Courthouse. And
not content with just one new
sculpture, the Commissioners
have raced ahead and will soon
be unveiling a sculpture by a
Continued on page 6
local artist which of all the
proposals that came through a
call for public art ideas, the
Ramsey Regeneration
Committee felt resonated most
with the town.
The Committee is now
turning its attention to the
Market Square area and is
looking at ways to make this
space work better for
pedestrians and vehicle drivers.
A scheme for the Square is
being drawn up and once
finalised a planning application
will be submitted.
Allan Bell MHK, Chairman of
the Ramsey Regeneration
Committee commented: ‘The
changes being brought about
in Ramsey are very exciting
and represent years of hard
work from those on the
Committee. I am pleased that
the benefits are now being
seen on the ground and hope
that the people of Ramsey will
continue to support these
HEART OF THE MATTER: The Court House area offers a real heart to Ramsey town centre
BRIGHT FUTURE: Ramsey shops have been given a lift
Improvements represent years of hard work
efforts to revitalise the town. I
strongly urge those that own
or lease properties in the town
centre that are vacant or in
need of external improvement
to do all they can support us in
improving Ramsey. With
Government’s regeneration
funding available to specifically
target town centre
improvements, there is no
excuse for anyone not to join
in with the spirit of what we
are trying to achieve.’
He added: ‘It is important
that we keep the momentum
of progress and Government is
leading the way with other
projects such as the completed
Albert Road car park and the
planned Ramsey Interchange.
These important improvements
will help to ensure that Ramsey
continues to provide an
exciting place for visitors and a
town that its residents can be
proud to call home.’
Continued from page 5Work on the current phase of
the regeneration scheme in
Ramsey is ahead of schedule,
with an expected completion
date before the end of August
2014.
It had been anticipated that
the works would run up until
November, but the contractor
has made excellent progress,
allowing a much earlier
completion in time for late
summer. The scheme sees the
section of Parliament Street
running from East Street to the
Court House enhanced with
new, wider, high quality
pavements, street furniture and
signage.
has taken longer than we had hoped to
get the first phase of Peel’s regeneration
programme underway. However, we now
have planning permission for the scheme
and can take the project forward.
‘Shopkeepers and business owners
have continued to improve the exterior of
their properties with the help of
regeneration funding and we hope that
more will follow to make the most of the
retail area.’
Injections of colour helping to enhance properties in Peel’s retail area
Lift-off as plans are
ready to be progressed
PEEL
Peel has continued with itsimprovements to commercialproperties with more external
painting schemes going ahead andseveral more in the pipeline.Injections of colour are lifting theappearance of the town centre,enhancing the many historicproperties which line the retail area.
Plans are also moving forward on the
initial regeneration scheme for Derby
Road. A revised planning application for a
scheme to improve this prominent
entrance to the town centre has just been
approved and works are planned to get
under way before 2015.
Adding to the excitement for this area,
the Cathedral has drawn up plans for a
new lychgate which has also recently
received planning approval. It is intended
that these schemes can be coordinated to
maximise their impact and bring a real
wow factor to those arriving in Peel by
bus.
Whilst a decision on the revised
planning application was awaited, the
Committee decided to explore initial plans
for Market Place and has shared the
scheme with the public.
Feedback will be key in establishing the
best layout for this important space and
the Committee is keen to make the most
of the setting provide by St Peter’s Church
and the attractive buildings which front
onto the square.
A vital element will be how the space is
designed to accommodate pedestrians and
vehicles to ensure that both coexist in a
safe, attractive and convenient way.
Tim Crookall MHK, Chairman of Peel
Regeneration Committee commented: ‘It
A TOUCH OF
COLOUR:
Commercial
properties in Peel’s
historic centre have
been improved with
help from the
regeneration fund
“ “We have planning permission for the first phase of Peel’s
regeneration programme and can now take it forward
— Tim Crookall MHK, Committee Chairman
LAXEY
Coach park is a gateway to popular tourist destination
Offering an even
warmer welcome
WARM WELCOME: Laxey’s new coach park provides visitors to the village with a warm welcome
Laxey now has asmart new coachpark to receive
passengers arriving tosee all that the villagehas to offer.
Laxey is one of the Island’s
most popular tourist
destinations, being home to
the Laxey Wheel, MER Station
and the Woollen Mills. In order
to enhance the villages existing
assets, the first regeneration
scheme which was completed
ahead of TT focussed on
improvements to the coach
park area at the entrance to
Mines Road. This is an
important gateway for visitors
and is often the first
impression that they get when
arriving in Laxey.
The Laxey Regeneration
Committee has been keen to
ensure that the maximum
number of coaches can be
accommodated whilst providing
pedestrians with a dedicated
area where they can orientate
themselves or simply sit on the
new benches and take in the
view. A dedicated information
sign will be installed in the
future to ensure that those that
are new to the village can
easily find the attractions on
offer.
Following the coach park
enhancements, the Committee
has plans for the creation of a
new square for the village. This
will be formed by enlarging the
existing area outside
Whitehouse Close and
remodelling the Rose Gardens
to create an enhanced public
realm. Not only will this
provide better pedestrian
facilities, it will create a better
linkage to the MER Station
which has recently undergone
a maintenance scheme.
Meanwhile, a number of
commercial properties have
undergone external
improvements with financial
support from the Regeneration
Scheme. The Heritage Trust
Gift Shop has been spruced up
ready for this year’s tourist
season and the buildings at
Whitehouse Close have been
painted giving a smart new
appearance.
Steve Rodan SHK,
Chairman of the Laxey
Regeneration Committee
commented: ‘The coach park is
an important part of the visitor
welcome and it now offers an
attractive arrival point to the
many coach visitors that come
to Laxey each year. The project
shows the benefits that the
regeneration scheme will
deliver when the main phase
for the Rose Gardens and
pavements follow later in the
year, subject to funding.’
SMART SHOP: The Heritage Trust shop has been given a
boost thanks to a new paint scheme
Latest improvements in Douglas are helping to revitalise the main retail zone
Driving forward vision
for a thriving capital
DOUGLAS
ALPHABET STREET: The Manx A - Y takes pride of place in the recently completed Regent Street scheme
One of the mainphases of Douglasregeneration was
completed early in 2014and sees Regent Street,Drumgold Street and DukeStreet transformed withnew high quality stonepaving, benches, artworkand lighting.
These works led on from
the enhancements to Upper
and Lower Nelson Street and
Wellington Street and create a
much more appealing setting
to enjoy shopping in the
Capital.
Perhaps one of the most
exciting areas of the completed
phase is Regent Street which
features dramatic circular
benches, trees and a unique
piece of public art in the form
of the Manx A to Y.
To those not overly familiar
with the Manx language the
omission of the letters X and Z
will likely seem strange.
However this omission was in
fact intentional as the Manx
language does not feature
either of these letters.
The images in the paving
depict the rich culture of
Douglas and the Island as a
whole and include reference to
the Giant Elk which resides at
the Manx Museum and of
course the world famous
Tourist Trophy motorcycle
SITTING PRETTY: A place to watch the world go by in Regent
Street, Douglas
“ “Douglas town centre is really starting to
look like a quality destination
— DavidCretney MHK, Committee Chairman
Continued on page 9
races which have been running
since 1907. The position of the
artwork denotes the area
where performances will take
place and a dedicated electrical
hook up point has been
provided to support this.
With the milestone of the
completion of Phase 1 being
reached, work began on Phase
2 soon after and is currently
focussed in Strand Street. The
poor quality and uneven paving
is being removed and the
street is being reconfigured to
provide a uniform surface
paved in the same high quality
stone used in the completed
sections. Douglas Borough
Council will be continuing with
its programme of installing
modern lighting to further
enhance the Island’s main
retail street.
Alongside the main project
to enhance the street, a
number of commercial
properties have benefited from
regeneration funding aimed at
supporting quality
enhancements. Included in this
is the recently established
Cotton Traders building which
now has a sleek new shop
front.
In a similar vein, The Get
Gorgeous Company situated on
Wellington Street has been
transformed with a one and a
half storey frameless shop
front and new signage.
Finally, those of you who
have visited the stunning first
phase of the Douglas
Promenade scheme,
implemented by the
Department of Infrastructure,
may have noticed the
impressive external lighting
that has been installed to
Jubilee Buildings. The
architectural detailing of the
building is now highlighted to
add to the dramatic first
impression of this gateway.
The combination of all of
these enhancements is driving
forward the vision for Douglas
This year Douglas gave TT visitors a
great first impression of the Island
Continued from page 8
STREET SCENE: The improvements in Regent Street have transformed this important retail area
GORGEOUS: The Committee
has been working with shop
owners and tenants to
support improvements to the
exterior of their properties
to be a thriving, cosmopolitan
capital.
David Cretney MHK,
Chairman of the Douglas
Regeneration Committee
commented: ‘Douglas town
centre is really starting to look
like a quality destination. As
works have progressed through
the main shopping streets the
improvement has been
dramatic.
‘I’ve been particularly
pleased to see how many
people are using the new
seating areas in Regent Street
and the interest generated by
the artwork. This year the
town gave TT visitors a great
first impression, helped by the
improvements made to the
Promenade and the lighting
scheme at Jubilee Buildings
which was part funding from
the Regeneration Fund.’
He added: ‘I am excited to
see the improvements
continuing along Strand Street
which are already brightening
up the main shopping area.
The Committee is keen to
encourage shop owners and
tenants to support the
enhancement of the retail area
by improving the exterior of
their properties and
regeneration funding is
available towards this.’
SHOP IMPROVEMENTSThe grant scheme to help encourage improvements to the exterior
of commercial properties located within the regeneration areashas continued and the results have been impressive.
If you own or lease aproperty within orabutting theregeneration area thenit may be eligible forregeneration funding toimprove the externalappearance of theproperty.
Improvements can
include painting, new signs,
lighting, renewing guttering,
scaffolding, roof and
window repairs but the
improvements must be to
the outside of the property
and they should not be
undertaken before an
application is submitted and
agreed.
There are some
additional criteria for
eligibility such as the
property must be of a
commercial nature, have
public access and you must
try to obtain 3 quotes for
each aspect of the work.
In order to assist you in
making an application to
the fund an information and
guidance for applicants
booklet and an application
form is available on the
Regeneration webpage:
www.gov.im/regeneration.
If you are considering
submitting a regeneration
application, then you are
advised to contact Steven
Stanley, Regeneration
Manager, (Tel. 687371 or
who can help with the
completion of the
application form and advice
on the level of financial
assistance you may wish to
seek. Application forms and
guidance information can
also be sent via post if
required.
How toapply forfunding
A key part of making town and village centres more accessible
to visitors from both on and off-Island is the provision of clear,
consistent and high-quality signage and information.
Commonly known as ‘wayfinding’, this approach seeks to
provide confidence to pedestrians and ensure that they are
directed to the main amenities and attractions of a place.
They can also provide information, stories and images to add
interest.
Signage has already been installed in a number of
locations including Douglas, Ramsey and Castletown and
more are set to follow.
SIGNAGE
HIGH QUALITY SIGNAGE
LIGHTING
If used correctly, lighting has theability to transform areas fromnormal and mundane into unique
and dramatic. This potential is beingunleased in many of the regenerationschemes that have been implementedand more will be incorporated intoprojects in the pipeline.
Ramsey has a canopy of twinkling
lights across the frontage of the Court
House building which comes to life as dusk
falls. In Douglas, the Borough Council has
chosen sleek, modern new lamp posts
which omit changing colours from their
LEDs to add excitement and change the
mood of the shopping streets. George
Lane in Castletown now has neat bollard
lighting to guide pedestrians along in
safety and comfort.
As well as making a space look better,
lighting plays an important part in
supporting the evening economy.
But it is not just street lighting that is
being used to add to the ambience of the
regeneration areas. In Douglas, a scheme
part funded by Regeneration has
transformed Jubilee Buildings by using
discrete spotlights and ground buried
lighting to highlight the architectural detail
of the facades.
Peter Horsthuis, part of Twickenham
Investments Limited said:
‘We are delighted with the outcome of
the lighting project. Jubilee Buildings is a
fine building in a prominent location and
its wonderful to see its ornate architectural
features sensitively highlighted at night by
LED spotlights and up-lights. I think it is
fair to say, the end result has exceeded
our expectations.’
>>> More lighting examples on p13
Let there be light ...New lighting schemes helping to transform areas in a dramatic way
LIGHT SHOW: The Jubilee Buildings in Douglas
BEFORE AND AFTERIn the next few pages you will find a
series of ‘before’ and ‘after’ images of
some of the regeneration areas.
Steven Stanley, Regeneration
Manager commented: ‘Once an area has
benefited from improvements it can be
easy to forget how things looked before
the regeneration works. However by
comparing before and after images it is
clear that dramatic enhancements are
being achieved in our town and village
centres.’
Regent Street in Douglas has been transformed to create a central area characterised by sculptured benches, trees,
modern lighting and a bespoke piece of public art that reflects the rich culture of the Island. A dedicated space for
performers has been included, along with a power supply. A new ramp to the Post Office improves access and
integrates neatly into the overall scheme. The scheme also features a row of pedal cycle stands.
BEFORE
AFTER
Regent Street, Douglas
Upper Nelson Street, Douglas
What was once a dull and uninviting side street is now a bright pedestrian linkage from Shaw’s Brow car park into the
retail centre of the town
BEFORE
AFTER
Court House, Ramsey
An area once dominated by vehicles is now an open
and welcoming space for pedestrians to enjoy the
shops and cafes. Outdoor seating, lighting and a
sculpture donated by Ramsey Town Commissioners
come together to confirm this area as the heart of
Ramsey town centre.
AFTER
BEFORE
George Lane, Castletown
George Lane has been transformed from a run-down passageway to a pedestrian-friendly link from the coach park and
car park area into the town centre
BEFORE
AFTER
Coach Park, Laxey
Laxey Coach park now gives visitors a warm welcome when they arrive in the village. A dedicated area for passengers
to congregate has been provided, equipped with benches, and an information sign will be added to help vistors to find
the many attactions Laxey has to offer.
BEFORE
AFTER
Further
information
Website links:
www.gov.im/regeneration
www.whereyoucan.im/Resources/Fact-Sheets.aspx
Contact Steven Stanley, Regeneration Manager
Telephone: 687371
Email: [email protected]