Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot is planning a site visit to The Nunnery to view changes that have taken place there.

Mr Boot was responding to a Tynwald question about whether there were any plans to register the building.

It is owned by the International Centre of Technology, which aims to create a ’central hub’ for technological development, partnering with University College Isle of Man. The college has a campus on the site, on the outskirts of Douglas.

Daphne Caine (Garff) pointed out two different consultants’ reports had recommended The Nunnery be added to the protected buildings register: ’How many reports does he need before he commences the process to start the registration of this historic building?’

Mr Boot said: ’We would all accept that this is a high-profile building of merit. However, the government decided not to register it prior to or at the point of sale.’

There were covenants put in place to protect the building. ’However, it is my intention to visit the building with officers and, I can reassure members that should significant concerns about the treatment of the property occur, I have, and would use, the power to serve a building preservation notice,’ he added.

That would prevent any changes taking place until the Nunnery’s possible registration was reviewed. He pointed out the building was in a poor state of repair when the new owner took it on.

’It is difficult to find people who will spend large quantities of money on old buildings and I do not want to deter or prevent the present owner from making the building better and obviously adapting it to modern use,’ he said.

â?¢ Mr Boot said he hoped to announce an improvement to the registration process in the new year. Currently, 275 buildings are on the list for consideration.