S6

Spatial Policy 6

providing access to the Museum also. The arrival at Market Street via the public access should be improved through public realm improvements to support a visual connection onto Strand Street.

SS6 Ginnel public realm & lighting improvement

The existing link quality from Market Street to Strand Street could be improved by lighting improvement and public realm, this could be something as simple as a projection onto a simple paved surface.

Medium Term

SS7 Modest boundary and public realm improvements along Market Street

Market Street is a thoroughfare, whilst it is used as a cut through, efforts could be made to retain pedestrian movement onto Strand Street. Market Street's primary purpose is as a service and vehicular route, where new developments are proposed and where the public realm crosses this, the treatment should reflect the pedestrian priority and slow traffic. However, for most of the street the priority should be to tidy and clean up the frontages and boundaries, through landscape and maintenance.

SS8 Public Realm improvement to Finch Road and Well Road Hill, and Market Street to address level changes, including some demolition

This is a key route into Lower Douglas and could be improved through widening and the inclusion of a four small units that are considered of low townscape quality (40a & 40b, Finch Road, 19 & 21 Wells Road Hill). Further opportunity is offered if the health centre is brought into the scheme; this area could be reworked to include a lift. The route gradient would benefit from a gradient reduction using shallow steps to reduce the severe angle, alongside an improvement to the quality of the space. Figure 4 sets out an indicative rearrangement of this space.

RESPONSE TO OBJECTIVES

An exciting place to invest and do business

The improved retailing opportunities provided through enlarged units will provide multiple retailers the much needed space for them to invest on the Island. Strand Street will provide an important supporting service to the adjacent business community.

A thriving town centre and shopping destination

The evolution of the centre to incorporate larger retailer units to support the diversification of the centre will increase footfall and attraction into the centre from younger shoppers who currently shop off Island and over the Internet. The focussed retailing areas will create points of interest along the Strand Street corridor and help to feed into other areas of development.

A well connected and accessible environment

Linking into Upper Douglas through proposed development and public realm projects, creating easier and legible routes. Strand Street sits at the centre of the Central Douglas area therefore is crucial within a town centre circuit.

An attractive & engaging place to spend time

The ongoing public realm improvements along Strand Street and linking to adjacent areas will create a positive perception and an attractive place to spend time.

A distinctive and sustainable Capital

New developments and the creation of new spaces will support the on-going evolution of Douglas as a Capital Town. By creating improved retailing options on Island the need for travel off Island to shop will be reduced, with spend retained on Island. A high quality retailing environment will engage and retain shoppers for a day's activity, rather than a brief trip into the centre to get an item.

A number of indicative sketch schemes have been prepared for the Strand Street area to consider how the proposed projects could be accommodated.

Figure 4 Indicative Sketch Scheme for Well Road Hill, looking at how better access can be achieved.

Figure 5 Indicative sketch scheme for Strand Street unit enlargement through the removal of existing units, and the opening up of the Market Street site.

Figure 6 Indicative sketch scheme for the Victory House site connection to Marks & Spencer with Cross Section

Figure 7 Indicative sketch scheme for the existing Villiers Square and AXA site

The Rock, Bury; recent retail development creates a mixed use development, with retail at ground floor, and other town centre uses accommodated above.

The Pavilion Cafe, Liverpool, creating natural surveillance onto public space

Covered retail streets at Liverpool One. The streets have lightweight roofs and high ceiling heights keeping the feeling of openness and creating attractive and welcoming spaces.

Pedestrian link bridge at the Royal School of Ballet, London.

Link bridge at Arad Bay, Bahrain.

QUAYSIDE

THE SITE

Location & Place

An attractive jewel in the Douglas crown, symbolising investment to date, demonstrating the potential of the town. The area contains the River Douglas crossings to enabl