Digging in For Appeal

The company behind the proposed development of the former Newsons’ building on North Quay says it is digging in for the fight to overturn its rejected planning application.

Kelproperties’ has originally said it would sell the building and its neighbours after the planning committee rejected its bid to regenerate the building, but has now u-turned and decided to appeal.

In its application, the company wanted to demolish the centuries-old registered building and replace it with flats and retail/restaurant spaces.

Company spokesman Michael Josem said: ‘In recent days, we have been overwhelmed by the public response supporting redevelopment of Merchants Place. literally hundreds of people expressing their support. As a result, we have submitted an appeal to the initial planning refusal by the Isle of Man Planning Committee.’

He went not to criticise the behaviour of the planning committee, saying the company was ‘particularly upset by the injustice given out at that meeting’.

And said that the company is claiming there was an ‘unfairness shown in allowing our side to only speak for a timed three minutes, and yet five members of the planning team together with their consultant and also several public members were allowed to constantly speak against the plans’.

Mr Josem added: ‘This cannot be fair play, and after initially saying we had given up and would sell the site, we are now digging in for the fight! We now hope that we can rehabilitate the former Newson’s site on appeal, and help create and connect North Quay in Douglas to be a beautiful, responsible and exciting improvement to our town. Let’s build a better future for our community.’

No Imminent Danger

While the company has said that the most controversial part of the scheme, the demolition of the former Newsons building, is necessary, planning officers have disputed this, saying it could be saved.

The officer report into the building said the owner had failed to ‘demonstrate that any meaningful repair or maintenance has been undertaken by the owner since 2016’. Mann Williams Consulting, acting for the department, also disputed that the building is at any risk of falling down.

The application will go before the Cabinet Office, with a result announce in due course.