Proposals for a 60 apartment block on sloping land between Douglas Head Road and the harbour is not being recommended by the Planning Director.

The application covers scrub land running alongside the steep steps down to the harbour bridge and Manx Petroleum Depot land. There's a fall of some 18 metres down the hillside.
The site is zoned for residential on the Douglas local plan and doesn't include a conservation area.

Representations centred on traffic increase and the possible dangers to pedestrians on South Quay. An assessment of the issues identified land use, in terms of zoning and sustainability, the loss of trees, hawthorn, elder and holly, in site clearance and highway issues.
Also the appearance and visual impact and the impact on neighbours. And the precedent for further harbour side development.

The proposed building was described as " largely of disappointing appearance" with two tall warehouse-like gables one of which is in Manx stone but much of the building is comprised of rendered box-like elements in which are set rectilinear arrays of rather dull windows".
All local residents who had made representations have now been given interested party status because of the traffic issues raised.
The recommendation was that the planning application should be refused.