Hopes community hub will be fully open by Easter

The Roundhouse is based at Strang Corner Field in Braddan

A new community centre should be fully up and running by the summer, a commissioner has said.

The Roundhouse on Strang Corner Field in Braddan contains a cafe, playground, sports hall, nursery and health facilities.

But while some parts of the building are now being used, many sections are yet to be completed and a new entrance needs to be built.

Braddan Commissioners Chairman Andrew Jessopp said it had been subject to a number of delays due to rising costs.

He said after work began in June 2021 "prices went up, materials became less available, and there were problems with getting people to come work on the site".

Those delays "pushed the price up quite considerably", Mr Jessopp added.

'Access issues'

Last year the local authority sought additional funding and the scheme has cost £9.4m so far.

Mr Jessopp said: "As people well know, there have been issues with access and that's delayed us issuing leases to our tenants."

He added that more tenants would be moving in in the coming weeks and it was hoped the centre would be fully operational by Easter, with a second entrance due to be built within the next 12 to 18 months.

The sports hall is up and running, as well as a baby sensory unit

Mr Jessopp praised the "quality of the facility" and called for government to use it as a "template for developments in the future".

Centre Manager Cassi McAllister said the National Sports Centre in Douglas was over-subscribed and the Roundhouse gave a number of sports clubs an alternative venue.

She said it was exciting to see "life inside it", with sports hall bookings filling up fast.

"It's popularity speaks for itself already," she said.