Land where the old nurses’ home in Westmoreland Road, Douglas, sits has been transferred to the Department of Health and Social Care for just 25p.

DHSC director of infrastructure Barbara Scott told the Examiner that the department recently discovered that the land still belonged to Henry Bloom Noble Trust, despite it being gifted for the department’s use in the 1950s.

For legal purposes and to register its ownership, a transaction was necessary and therefore the land was sold for the nominal sum in October.

The land and empty building are now both in the ownership of the DHSC. She added: ’There’s no intention to sell it at this moment in time.’

Health chiefs said the old nurses’ home fell short of modern standards and had reached the end of its operational life. It used to house health and social care staff in need of accommodation.’

Documents lodged at the General Registry show the land and building’s market value is estimated at £900,000.