“The infrastructure minister says the cost of rebuilding Tramway Terrace, without at least partial demolition, could stray into millions.
The future of the registered building on Douglas promenade has been the subject of debate in recent years.
It had been threatened with demolition, before a structural engineer concluded that it was repairable.
Options currently being explored include demolishing part of the building and retaining the building's façade.
The results of a Heritage Impact Assessment are expected back in the next four-to-six weeks, after which a business case will be formed for the works to be done.
Tramway Terrace, built in 1877, formed part of the original stables for the Douglas horse tramway - which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026.
‘The building is still is very unsafe and in a perilous state’ - Michelle Haywood
Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood told Manx Radio the sale of the site hasn't been ruled out - but that she's more inclined to see Tramway Terrace incorporated into part of the Horse Tram attractions”
The Minister’s comments are reproduced as follows:
Minister Michelle Haywood: 'So, what we're looking to do with Tramway Terrace at the moment is the building is still moving and still shifting. If you go around the back of the building, even though it's scaffolded, you can see where the lintels above the windows no longer line up with the scaffolding because the roof was replaced with a very heavy roof compared to the original, and it's pushing the walls of the building outwards. So, the building still is very unsafe and in a perilous state. We are just in the middle of a heritage impact assessment, which is evaluating our options for the site. Almost certainly some of that building will have to be demolished because it is just unsafe.'
'I have seen some preliminary costings for if we were to try and recover the whole building, and we are running into millions of pounds, but there are ways of saving part of the building and I think we've, we've seen some of that more along the prom recently, where you save the facade and then you rebuild the back. And actually, that's probably the cheaper and safer option. But all those options at the moment are being evaluated. And a heritage impact assessment that I expect I will see within the next 4 to 6 weeks and see the results of that. And that is likely to form a business case that will be submitting for the works to be done.'
MANX RADIO: 'I believe it was back in April. You didn't rule out selling the site? Is that still on the table?'
Minister Michelle Haywood: 'Um, I haven't ruled out selling the site, but I actually, I'm more of the opinion now, and we have been talking about horse tram reinstatement as well, but I'm more of the opinion now that as you come to the 150th anniversary of the Douglas Bay horse tram network, that tramway terrace is an integral part of that whole system. So, you've got the stables, you've got Tramway Terrace, and then you should have the line running along the problem as well. So, I'm more inclined to see. And part of the heritage impact assessment is looking to see how do we incorporate that tramway terrace building into the stables, and does it become, for example, a visitor centre that would then support the stables being open to people more often? And it's a great I don't know if you've ever been for a visit.'
'It's a lovely visit down there, and so we're looking to see'