'New housing in Willaston to reduce waiting lists'

A new apartment block will cut the social housing waiting list in the Isle of Man's capital by 88 people, Douglas Council has said.

The development of the block, with 48 flats, in Willaston cost the authority £11m.

As well as helping people on the waiting list, the council said the news would also enable people already in social housing to downsize, thereby freeing up bigger properties for larger families.

Council Leader Devon Watson said: "By building apartments we end up essentially creating a lot more three-bedroom homes and by doing that we're able to have a much larger impact."

Watson said there would also be outdoor play areas for children and a wetland area to encourage community engagement with nature.

The Willaston block is also close to a number of local businesses and has a bus stop convenient for people wanting to get into Douglas city centre, he added.

Watson said 88 people could be accommodated in the block, which has an estimated lifespan of 100 years.

Watson said: "You're probably going to see thousands of people housed over the course of this building's lifetime, and that cost pays itself back over time."

The complex is called James Brown Apartments, after councillors voted in January last year to name it after the political activist and newspaper editor for his "significant contributions to Douglas" in the 1800s.

Councillor Peter Washington said: "It is the biggest social housing estate that we have on the island.

"Some of the people have lived up here for over 50 years" and the development would allow them "to stay within their own community", he said.

Washington added that the project was a "massive signal from the council" that they were "thinking of these issues" and "these are the solutions".

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