Plans for £1.4m marine garden revamp paused

11 hours ago

Catherine NicollIsle of Man

News image — The plans were approved, with conditions, in July 2025

DOUGLAS COUNCIL An illustration of garden number 4, which has a ship design play area for children and a paved path. — The plans were approved, with conditions, in July 2025

Plans for a £1.4m redevelopment of seafront gardens in the Manx capital have been put on hold because of a lack of flood defences in the area.

Douglas Council's proposals to revamp the marine gardens on Loch Promenade - damaged in February by flooding caused by heavy storms - were approved by planners last year.

However, the council has now said it would be "financially irresponsible" to start the project "without certainty around long-term protection for the area".

The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) said there had "never been any plans to extend the sea wall" and added that the local authority was aware of this when it submitted its planning application.

A sea wall running along Harris and Central Promenades - including the area of the war memorial - protects the road from storm surges.

The council's plans, which would also see the redevelopment of the green space on Queen's Promenade, include a marine-themed playground, a set of panels reflecting the work of Manx artist Archibald Knox, and newly designed garden areas with seating.

DOUGLAS COUNCIL An illustration of garden number 5, which has seating and a skateboard ramp. — The designs were put out to consultation by the local authority

Walls on Loch Promenade were damaged by Storm Barra in December 2021 as well as in February's storm.

Douglas Council said the "increasing frequency and severity of coastal weather events", along with the vulnerability of the marine gardens – also known as the sunken gardens – to easterly winds, high tides and storm conditions meant it would be "premature" to proceed.

Although they were intentionally designed to provide shelter from coastal winds in the 1930s, the design "now leaves the gardens increasingly exposed to flooding and wave damage", it added.

A section of the promenade with part of a stone wall brought down. It is cordoned off with red-and-white tape. — Sections of the wall along Loch Promenade were damaged by a storm in February

The DOI said: "There have never been any plans to extend the sea wall beyond the current structure on Harris Promenade and Central Promenade."

The department's "primary obligation is to protect the highway", it said, and it had been "determined that extending the sea wall along Loch Promenade was not necessary to do that".

The DOI said: "Douglas City Council was aware of this position when it submitted its planning application for Marine Gardens in February 2025."

The infrastructure minister is expected to arrange to meet with the council leader following the TT races.

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