A new old folk’s home is to be built on the site of Glenside, which used to be home to old folk’s home.

Glenside shut in 2012 and the buildings were demolished in 2015, leaving the site empty and neglected.

It did not meet modern regulations.

The new 60-bed old people’s home will also include an old people’s day care centre, communal lounges, activity rooms, communal dining and a terrace and roof garden.

Discussing the matter at a recent meeting, Councillor Jon Joughin said he was delighted something was going to be done with the vacant plot but added: ’Is this another that’s going to be bought back by the government at an extortionate rate, like Salisbury Street?’

Councillor Ritchie McNicholl, chairman of the council’s environmental services committee, that oversees unsightly or run-down buildings and plots in the borough, said: ’As far as I know, the development is being done by the government. The Isle of Man is crying out for homes.’

The new development will also include better staff facilities, for sleeping, recreation and changing, as well as office space and a laundry.

In recent months a new care home has also been completed on the site of the former Salisbury Street bus garages.

Last year, the government sought to spend up to £8.1 million buying the building to help address the lack of old people’s homes in the island. The then Health and Socal Care Minister Howard Quayle said the island’s population of over 65s was set to rise by 55 per cent in the next 20 years.

Speaking at the time, Mr Quayle said the move would help to alleviate the phenomenon of bed blocking where some elderly patients were well enough to be discharged but did not have anywhere to go where they would be cared for.

Councillors supported the planning application for the site, a popular TT spectators’ spot at the top of Victoria Road on the exit to Governor’s Dip, but expressed concern, saying they were keen to see some provision contained in the planning application to cater for recycling.