The leader of Douglas Council has said that the logistics of redeveloping the island’s urban areas make out of town sites more attractive to developers.

Mr Christian was speaking at a Tynwald select committee hearing evidence on the development of unoccupied urban sites.

Chairman of the committee Bill Shimmins MHK said it was the committee’s understanding that it is cheaper and easier to develop greenfield sites.

Mr Christian said: ’We agree, Douglas Borough Council has serious concerns with developments on the outskirts of the town centre.

’Lots of infrastructure has been neglected by successive government for a very long time. Now we are seeing investment.’

He added that the council has spent nearly £3m to support some of the infrastructure regeneration projects.

Mr Christian commented that much of the development on the outskirts of town occurs around the Cooil Road area.

This, he says, has had a negative impact on Douglas town centre, citing conversations with taxi drivers, retailers and licensees as evidence for a decline in trade.

He added: ’It is cheaper and easier to develop greenfield sites rather than redundant sites in town centres, some of which date back now to 20 years of lying empty.’

Mr Christian has this year repeatedly called for more to be done to develop brownfield sites such as the former Villiers Square site on Loch Promenade, which has been empty for about 20 years since the former hotel was demolished.

Mr Christian’s words were echoed by Douglas Council’s assistant chief officer (regeneration) Chris Pycroft.

Mr Pycroft told the committee: ’We’re all aware there are some fairly major and prominent sites around the town centre in Douglas that haven’t been developed for many years.’

He added that he believes economic factors have hindered development and that a thriving economy is what underpins development.

Mr Pycroft said that there have been issues previously with encouraging developers to use previously used urban sites, including previous foundations still being in place or contamination of the area which can make greenfield sites more appealing.

Mr Christian showed that the council is not only complaining of the issues surrounding brownfield sites but has some potential ideas to solve issues.

These included a time limit on how long cleared sites can be used for car parking, if indeed that should be allowed at all.

And applying rates to the properties that are used as car park as currently there is little incentive to build on profitable sites that pay out little.

He said: ’They’re making an income from car parking so let’s rate them as if they have a full building on them.’