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Market Place regeneration scheme is result of extensive community input

Friday, 2 September 2016

The work in progress at Market Place in Peel seeks to enhance the layout of this important civic space in the heart of the town.

The scheme is the culmination of a process of extensive public consultation, planning consideration and input from a range of key stakeholders over six years.

It is funded by Government’s Town and Village Centre Regeneration Scheme, which supports economic regeneration in our urban centres. This is achieved by upgrading poor quality materials and making public spaces work better for residents and visitors, while also creating the right environment to attract further investment.

Regeneration projects in other towns have demonstrated that central government spending on our infrastructure helps to stimulate private sector investment which supports the local economy.

Importantly, the Regeneration Fund does not replace or subsidise existing maintenance budgets.

The Market Place scheme has been overseen by the Peel Regeneration Committee, whose membership includes the area MHK and representatives from Peel Town Commissioners and the local business community.

Initial consultations were held in July 2010 to identify the priorities for Peel as part of the Island-wide regeneration initiative. Among the key themes that emerged were the need to link the quayside with Michael Street and a demand for the creation of attractive public spaces.

Market Place and Douglas Street form an important link between the Quayside and Promenade and the town’s main retail area.

Proposals for Market Place and Douglas Street were drawn up with oversight from the Peel Regeneration Committee. Draft plans went on public display in July 2014 to provide an opportunity for people to highlight any feedback or comments before the planning application was submitted.

The scheme received planning approval on 17 August 2015 following a positive recommendation by the appointed planning inspector.

Further public information was issued about the scheme and the proposed timetable, while drop-in sessions were held in March 2016 to discuss the construction process.

The Market Place regeneration will deliver a high quality public realm using a palette of natural sandstone and granite stone materials, which have not been used elsewhere in the Island. These materials replace tarmacadam and concrete road surfacing and paving.

Underground services are being upgraded as required and the Committee has listened to public calls for improved pedestrian signage which will be brought forward to further enhance the offer to visitors to Peel.

It should be noted that any scheme to upgrade the Market Place would have required the renewal of underground services and reconstruction of the carriageway. This work represents a significant proportion of the cost of the scheme at just under £480,000, or 43% of the overall budget.

In light of public feedback, parking has been retained but reconfigured to allow more space for pedestrians within a layout that will allow the area to host community events. Parking which previously obscured the view of St Peter’s Church and grounds has been relocated. 

A key feature of the scheme is the creation of a combined stepped and ramped access to the grounds of St Peter’s Church, opening up an important green space in the heart of the town centre and making it accessible to all.

As with any project still in progress, the site is a development area and therefore does not currently provide a true reflection of how the finished scheme will look.

In time the materials will mellow and soften to blend with the surrounding buildings which are the key assets of the Conservation Area. These buildings remain unchanged and some have been sympathetically enhanced with financial support from the Regeneration Scheme.

It is hoped that once completed, the benefits of the project will be clear for all to see.

Ray Harmer, Chairman of the Peel Regeneration Committee, commented:

‘Over the last six years many groups of people – Commissioners, MHKs, businesses and others – have worked together to repair failing infrastructure. Market Square is part of a wider vision to attract more business and tourism to Peel and create a public space accessible to all and used for a variety of events.’

Christine Moughtin, Chairman of Peel Town Commissioners, said:

‘The Board of Peel Town Commissioners is supportive of much-needed investment from central government and the private sector to renovate the town centre. The Commissioners are working closely with local retailers to minimise the impact of these works and I welcome the private investment currently taking place to renovate two prominent buildings neighbouring the regeneration works.’

She added:

‘The Commissioners have budgeted this year for improving St Peter’s Church and their gardens, improving street cleaning in the town, administering dilapidated building legislation and refurbishing the Market Place toilets to supplement the regeneration works. A visual assessment at this time is premature because the location is currently a building site.’

These sentiments were reiterated by new Commissioner Ben Heath who said:

‘The Commissioners have two responsibilities, to ensure the Department delivers the project as quickly as possible and to make sure the space is utilised for the betterment of Peel.’

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