Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan has trumpeted the government’s track record in finding entrepreneurs to come up with new uses for old buildings.

In the House of Keys last week, Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked for examples of redundant public-sector buildings being given a new lease of life by ’innovative local entrepreneurs’.

Mr Cannan pointed to the proposals to convert the former central post office building in Regent Street, Douglas, into a bar, restaurant and take away.

Plans for a hotel, cinema, shops and homes on the former bus station site in Lord Street, were ’gathering momentum’, he said.

’On a smaller scale, a number of former Department of Health and Social Care properties have been sold and have already seen the establishment of professional business opportunities,’ he added.

’There is also a wide range of smaller or leased properties which are being used for innovative and unique purposes.’

The Minister continued: ’Manx National Heritage has delivered a positive development in Castletown with Costa on the quarterdeck area.

’Equally the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has worked with the private sector to develop, for example, recreational facilities: Ape Mann, Segway (Isle of Man) and Laser Mayhem, for example.

’Douglas Council and the private sector are evolving the Douglas Market Hall into a cycle centre and café, which sounds like a very positive project.’

It was the latest in a series of questions tabled by Mr Moorhouse, about the future of old public-sector buildings, following concern at the proposed sale of the former police station in Castletown.