Community hub plans submitted to overhaul part of Peel Promenade

The community sports hub could replace two tennis courts on Peel Promenade

Plans for a community hub to regenerate part of a promenade in the west of the Isle of Man have been submitted.

Peel Commissioners has applied for approval in principle to redevelop an area of Marine Parade, which is home to two hard-surfaced tennis courts.

The plans include a cafe, bowling clubhouse and public toilets.

The authority said aside from during Wimbledon fortnight, the current courts were "not well used", and one would be relocated if the plans were approved.

The application said the proposals would improve the appearance of the site and complement the range of amenities available further along the promenade.

The commissioners said they had found that other popular facilities offered a range of sports rather than being dedicated to just one.

New toilet block

Under the scheme, a nearby cafe would be relocated to the south west of the neighbouring bowling green, which was "very popular but not in a good state of repair", the authority said.

The plans would see the crown green bowling clubhouse and public toilets moved to the site to create an indoor community hub with a club room, function room and indoor bowling lanes.

A new toilet block, to replace one now "past its useful life", would have external access so the facilities could be used when the main building was closed, the application states.

The site, at the northern end of Peel Promenade lies in an area designated for tourism on the Peel Local Plan and although it is close to a conservation area, is located outside of it.

If the proposed scheme was accepted, the tennis court would move on to the adjacent multi-sport area, which has basketball nets and a dilapidated BMX park.

The authority said it could seek to relocate those facilities to a "more central and accessible part of the town" at a future date.

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