Housing officers at Douglas City Council have met tenants in Marathon Drive and Falcon Cliff Terrace to share early plans for the area.
Douglas City Council owns 35 properties within the estate, the majority of which are three-bedroom homes, around half of which are currently occupied.
Many have reached the stage where significant investment is required to modernise them and are currently vacant.
Future Housing
As part of the local authority’s wider commitment to provide high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes for those in housing need, the Council is proposing to sell the vacant properties.
These will be sold individually on the private market, helping to boost private sector housing supply in the capital at the same time. The first six will be listed in the coming weeks.
Income from the sales will then be reinvested directly into new high-quality Public Sector properties for Council tenants.
This includes plans to develop a brand-new block of homes in the city centre, building on the success of recent initiatives such as the flagship Peel Road apartment scheme, and the imminent completion of the ‘James Brown Apartments’ in Willaston, which have delivered quality, energy-efficient homes in Douglas.
Over time, as other homes on Marathon Drive and Falcon Cliff Terrace naturally become vacant, the Council will gradually sell them to allow a smooth transition for both tenants and the local community.
Positive Response
Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, Councillor Peter Washington, says the reinvestment proposal will ultimately lead to an overall increase in public-sector homes in Douglas, as older properties are replaced.
“Our sessions with tenants were extremely positive,” he explained. “We talked through individual housing needs, answered questions openly and listened to what matters most to residents. We want every tenant to be part of the journey as we plan for the future of Marathon Drive and Falcon Cliff Terrace.
“Rather than refurbishing ageing properties one-by-one which would cause major disruption, with many tenants needing to move out for months, we believe the best approach is to invest in new homes.
“This is very much a long-term project and tenants can remain in their homes. If, in the future, a property can no longer be repaired to the standard they deserve, we would work together to find a suitable alternative, always with the full support of our Housing Team.
“We are committed to clear, supportive communication throughout and look forward to working closely with residents as this project develops.”
