Welcome to the website of Douglas Development Partnership. Please explore the site to see the latest news, find out more about our work, and see who is involved in the Partnership. Click on the map to the right or the "Explore" button to find the location of projects.
The regeneration of Douglas town centre is now truly under way. The prototype project in the upper part of Nelson Street has been deemed a great success. If you haven't yet had a chance to see the finished project, it's well worth a visit as it shows the quality of materials and workmanship that will soon be extending through the town centre.
The Design Guide which sets out the concepts for the project can be downloaded here.
Chris Pycroft, Development Manager
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Partnership welcomes Portas Review Douglas Development Partnership’s Chris Pycroft has welcomed recommendations made by retail expert Mary Portas in her report* into how to revive the high street.
‘We’re already ahead of the game in respect of Ms Portas’s concept of a “town team”, which she sees as a “visionary, strategic and strong operational management team”. Some time ago the Council appointed Gill Anderson as Douglas town centre manager to work with the Development Partnership’s board and advisory group. These are decision-makers experienced in retail and business who are actively involved with the Partnership in helping change attitudes, driving schemes to regenerate the town and are taking a strategic view of the Douglas of the future. In short, a body of people working to identify, develop and communicate a Douglas “brand”.
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DDP goes overboard at Christmas
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Christmas emporium emphasises ‘shop local’ message The series of Christmas emporia organised by Douglas Development Partnership is proving to be a storehouse of trading success. Town centre manager Gill Anderson, (pictured - as a Christmas tree - with Laurence Skelly MHK at the official opening) said: ‘Feedback has been very positive with some traders reporting best-ever sales figures. The success of the emporia underlines the fact that even in these difficult times when households’ budgets are being stretched there is still an appetite for something different, for a ‘We are grateful to the Department of Economic Development’s political member Laurence Skelly MHK for his support and of course to the many hundreds of Christmas shoppers who are voting with their feet - and their hard-earned pounds – to contribute to the success of each Christmas emporium.’
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Festive flotillas for Christmas: Douglas Development Partnership goes overboard Boat owners who harbour a desire to get creative this Christmas are being urged to attempt a little maritime makeover on their vessels and enter the Best-Dressed Boat competition.
The competition is being organised by Douglas Development Partnership whose development manager Chris Pycroft said: ‘Robin’s magnificently decorated boat last year was the inspiration for the challenge, so we’re enormously grateful to him for his support for the competition. The Partnership was keen that Douglas harbour, with its backdrop of the regenerated North Quay complete with its decorative lighting, should be brought into the festive atmosphere that now extends throughout the town centre and we’re hoping that not only boat owners but also local businesses will “go overboard” with their Christmas decorations.’
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Development manager Mr Pycroft said: ‘The Portas Review has started a much-needed national conversation about how to make the most of our high streets. Encouragingly, a number of recommendations Mary Portas makes in her review Douglas Development Partnership is either already implementing or considering for the future.
Early in December the Partnership floated an idea in collaboration with the North Quay Community Association to brighten up Douglas harbour at Christmas: a Best-Dressed Boat competition.
new “look and feel” to the Christmas shopping experience with a mix of stalls selling local goods and street entertainment. This year we’ve seen how outdoor markets on the North Quay attracted encouraging numbers of shoppers and we were determined to build on that success and support local retailers during their most crucial trading period, Christmas.
Robin Middleton CBE, RNLI National Council member, former crew member and silver medal holder whose own festively decorated craft (pictured) brought some Christmas cheer to Douglas harbour last year has pledged a donation of £100 to Douglas RNLI, confident that more than 20 boat owners will enter into the spirit of the occasion.
