Work on the regeneration of the Square and Parade areas of Castletown could get under way early in the New Year.

Planning permission has now been granted to create more public space with flexible parking and a dedicated pedestrianised area for
events. High quality stone paving, increased seating and low energy lighting will be used to enhance the historic setting.

The next hurdle will be to secure the necessary funding.

Chairman of the town's regeneration committee Richard Ronan MHK said: 'This is wonderful news for Castletown. The Committee has worked very hard to produce a scheme which brings together the needs of key stakeholders. This has required joined-up working and in some areas compromise but the approved proposals will give Castletown the high quality public realm that its residents, workers and visitors deserve.

'I was particularly pleased to read the independent planning inspector’s conclusions that the “overall outcome would combine a much improved pedestrian realm across the Market Square and The Parade, whileretaining permitted vehicular accessibility to the shopping streets and no less public car parking convenient to the town centre.” The inspector also felt that “The public investment proposed for its key central open areas, especially the Market Place, can be expected to increase footfall and with it economic viability and vitality.”'

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