£40m Ramsey redevelopment plans unveiled

Sulby riverside proposals for greenfield site

£40 million plans to develop a greenfield site in Ramsey have been unveiled.

The 'Sulby Riverside' site, located at Ballachrink Farm, is in the centre of the town.

It's bordered by Poyll Dooey nature reserve to the north, the recent development Auldyn Meadow to the west and the Northern Delivery Office to the south.

Plans were submitted to Ramsey Town Commissioners in June this year and were met with enthusisam from the previous board.

Current members are yet to review the plans.

Planner Richard Coutts says the area's location means environmental issues have been a key focus:

Developer Nathan Church feels the project is an opportunity to boost the local econmony and increase Ramsey's appeal as a place to live, work and visit.

He said: "One of the things that drew us to the location was the fact that it knits together the town centre with the emerging communities beyond Gardeners' Lane to the west. 

"Our consultants have been able to show that the existing local infrastructure and road network will comfortably cope with the additional demands with the added benefit that the new primary access road will take pressure off Gardeners Lane during the annual Isle of Man TT.

"The proposals, worth £40m when developed, will help to sustain employment in the local building supply chain and generate hundreds of thousands of pounds per year in new rateable income available to invest in public services.

"Local retailers and tradesmen will benefit from the additional spending that new developments typically generate as new home-owners 'make their house a home'. Research suggests this averages approximately £5,000 per household."

Residents are invited to review, and share their thoughts on, the proposal at www.sulbyriverside.im where spaces can be reserved for an online Q+A session with the project design team.

It will take place next Monday, 6 December.