THE Department of Social Care will seek Tynwald approval this week to spend almost £800,000 on six new flats in Jurby.

The department wants to build three two story blocks of flats, each containing two two bedroomed apartments, and car parking on the Bretney Estate.

Tynwald will be asked to approve spending of up to £785,000 for the project which the department says is within the budget already included in the government estimates for this year.

If approved the new apartments will provide housing for some of the 28 people who are on the waiting list for this type of accommodation in the north of the Island.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK said: "With over 1,400 persons listed on the public sector general housing waiting list who are in need of affordable housing it is essential that government continues to invest in affordable housing. 

"Although this project is relatively small in scale it is utilising existing under-used land in government ownership and will provide continuing work for the Island’s construction industry."

If the project is approved the properties on the ground floor will be built so that they can be adapted for people with a range of mobility needs.

The department says the project will start later this month if approval is granted.

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