Douglas Borough Council is to offer the horse tram stables and Tramway Terrace for sale.
The move forms part of a consolidation programme following the council’s decision in January this year to discontinue the horse tram service, now the responsibility of the Department of Infrastructure.
Council leader David Christian said: ‘Part of the proposal considered by Tynwald regarding the horse tram service involved the creation of a combined tramway and stables operation. The stables and the three cottages that make up Tramway Terrace can therefore be released to provide some return on the financial support which the Douglas ratepayers have made for the building and the horse tram service over the years. The decision to offer the site for sale was not, as has been suggested by some, made in haste. It was never going to be viable to offer the terrace of cottages for sale on their own, and indeed to renovate the cottages would require heavy investment from ratepayers. It is only now that the council is in a position to offer the whole site as a prime development opportunity.
‘Putting the stables and Tramway Terrace up for sale will also open up possibilities to re-purpose the Strathallan building - which the council is in the process of transferring to the Department of Infrastructure – so it may serve as a tram store and stabling for the horses, plans having been previously drawn up for a combined hub at Strathallan.
‘In short, this is a measure the council is taking to reinvigorate this stretch of Douglas promenade and reduce the financial burden on the ratepayers of Douglas as it is they who, quite rightly, should ultimately benefit from the sale proceeds.’
Commercial property consultants Chapman Chartered Surveyors have been instructed to handle the sale of behalf of the council.
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