THE regeneration of Douglas Town Centre will begin after this year's TT Races.
Douglas Borough Council has committed two million pounds to the Destination Douglas scheme to improve the look of the town.
On Monday work will begin on Nelson Street with the area being used as a "testing ground".
Councillor David Ashford, the public works committee chairman, said: "The project is scheduled to take approximately six weeks and will include the installation of new paving and bespoke wall-mounted LED lighting units - the latter devised in collaboration with the borough engineer’s department.
"Once completed Nelson Street will serve as a testing ground for materials and designs for the overall scheme and will provide the clearest interpretation to date of the Destination Douglas vision."
Council leader Councillor David Christian, who sits on the Douglas local regeneration committee, said: "The regeneration of Douglas town centre is the number one priority for Douglas Borough Council - so far one of the only local authorities to have provided funding of its own (two million pounds) towards the project.
"We would hope that our government partners, having approved the scheme, will be forthcoming with additional funds.
"Nelson Street represents the start of what will undoubtedly be a long but ultimately beneficial process that will ensure Douglas becomes a vital and economically viable capital fit for the 21st Century."
