Could there be progress at last at redeveloping the Lord Street bus station site - or will it be yet another false start?

Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer told the House of Keys this week that a preferred bidder had been selected and a lease could be agreed as soon as this summer.

He said: ’Bids for the Lord Street and Parade Street sites have been evaluated by a cross-government officer group and a preferred bidder has been recommended. This work was validated by an external specialist.

’I am currently reviewing the officers’ report and recommendation, and will be in a position to make an announcement shortly.’

But Douglas North MHK David Ashford pointed out we had heard it all before.

He asked the Minister: ’Is he confident that this proposal will potentially go ahead? On a scale of one to 10, maybe, how confident is he?

’We have heard of various announcements over the years that have never actually come to fruition.’

Mr Harmer replied: ’Yes I am reasonably confident, but that will come down to the recommendation that will go through the various processes. We are coming to the end of that, and I am confident of making a statement shortly.’

But Mr Ashford questioned what the Minister meant by ’shortly’? ’Does he mean shortly as in a couple weeks, a couple of months, or the next session of Tynwald in five years’ time?’ he asked.

Mr Harmer said: ’I fully appreciate this has been a long road, with many false starts.

’My hope is that we will agree the preferred bidder within a month or so. We are in a situation where there are always potential issues, but we could be agreeing a lease as soon as this summer and looking to do something beginning in the next two or three years.

’So there is positive progress, but like in all things we cannot be absolutely certain of everything.’

Askett Hawk was granted a 999 year lease on the site in 2008 after outlining plans for a £70m hotel and apartments development but pulled out five years later.

The Minister was also asked what progress has been made with the plans for the former Park Road School site announced in 2013.

He said: ’We will soon be in a position to review various development options with the interested parties.’

The department has been establishing levels of need for different types of housing, including homes for older persons or first-time buyers.