A modern new school and state-of-the-art health centre will rise from the ashes of the old Noble's Hospital site in Douglas.

That's the long-term aim of the Manx government, which has presented outline plans to transform the town centre site to Tynwald members.

The scheme will cost ?30 million and is still some way in the future.

But there's a firm commitment to replace Ballacloan and Fairfield schools, which both lack outdoor sporting facilities.

Education minister Anne Craine says there's a pressing need to improve facilities for youngsters at Ballacloan in particular (audio file attached):

Anne Craine was speaking to James Davis on Mandate.

(Image: Site plan for the proposed scheme, showing the school in yellow, the health centre in blue and the play area in green).