Chief Minister Howard Quayle has commented on £25m plans to develop the Lord Street site in Douglas.

The proposals were leaked to the media yesterday morning.

In the afternoon, Mr Quayle spoke about the plans and an official press release was hastily sent out.

In the past, the Chief Minister had declined to respond to our requests for information about the development after a number of previous schemes for the area were announced and then failed to go ahead.

Yesterday, he told iomtoday.co.im that the development would be entirely privately-funded.

He said: ’We’ve spent 18 months working on this and we didn’t want to be like other administrations where plans have been announced and then never happened.

’I wanted to be as certain as possible.

’This investment by the private sector shows the great confidence we all share in the island and the future. If you want to grow the workforce, like we know we have to, you must provide facilities for them.

’Quayside North will be a great asset to Douglas town centre, offering diversity in terms of entertainment and accommodation as well as creating up to 100 jobs.

’There is still work to be done to finalise exact details but, with the promenade regeneration also set to get under way in September, I am pleased today to ask people to look forward to an exciting future in the life of the island’s capital.’

As we reported yesterday, the plans include a large area of Douglas quayside.

They include an 80-bedroom Travelodge hotel, a seven-screen cinema, bar/restaurant/cafe units, 20 flats and about 300 car parking spaces.

Development will be on the former bus station site in Lord Street, Douglas.

The site has been the subject of several plans proposed since 2002, though none has come to fruition.

But now American-based real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is advertising units to let in the development, called ’Quayside North’. JLL describes the area around Lord Street as ’well established as the primary evening hub that includes an array of bars and restaurants’.

Planning permission is due to be sought in the second quarter of 2018.

Work is then planned to begin on the site in early 2019, though no completion date has yet been revealed.

Details emerged just two weeks after leader of Douglas Council David Christian said an announcement was imminent.

Conor Bradley, from developers Kane Ltd, said: ’My team has been working hard during the past 18 months to bring together an exciting mixed-use scheme that is both viable and deliverable in the current climate.

’The images currently in circulation illustrate the building as a concept only - the design detail will be developed through consultation with the planning office.’

A statement from Omniplex Cinema group, which operates 222 screens across 27 locations, said: ’The Quayside North project is an exciting venture for Omniplex Cinemas and we look forward to providing a world-class cinema experience to Manx audiences.

’We will, of course, be showing the newest blockbuster releases and introducing the latest cinema technology to the island.’

In addition to the hotel and cinema, the complex will also serve transport needs.

Modern bus shelters will be installed along Lord Street to provide a transport hub, said to be similar to the one serving Liverpool One shopping centre.

A tourist information centre is incorporated into the design along with facilities for the public and staff.

Since the old bus station was demolished in 2002, the site has largely been used as a car park.

Previous failed plans have included Askett Hawk’s plans to build a four-star hotel with 150 rooms, 75 flats, and nine retail and leisure units, which fell through despite the company being offered a 999-year lease.

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer MHK said: ’I am delighted that this key development site is now coming to fruition and that the proposed investment shows confidence in the Isle of Man.

’Planning approval is yet to be sought for the Quayside North project - it’s therefore premature to offer any great detail at this stage.’

Kane Limited is an Isle of Man-based property development company established by Tynwald Mills boss Stephen Bradley MBE.