- Read our timeline of tears which revaels the missed opportunities to build world-class developments on the Isle of Man
- Big promises have been made over 20 years – but infrastructure plans have been thwarted by bureacracy and cancellations.
- Here Expose.News lays bare the projects that bit the dust in two decades of painful newspaper headlines.
- But residents and developers are now speaking out and fighting back.
- One company has launched a £90 million claim against the government and its advisors Lambert Smith Hampton.
- Sondica allege that the Department of Infrastrcture corruptly botched its bid to revamp Lord Street – a claim which is denied by the defendants.
In the previous instalment of our ‘Power & Property’ series, ex-Manx politician Juan Turner opened-up a debate about the controversial issue of failing infrastructure development on the Isle of Man.
Since then, we have been contacted by several viewers who’ve brought to our attention examples of big-ticket projects that have been talked-up by the Isle of Man government and its blue chip consultants – but then mysteriously NEVER HAPPENED.
Here’s our timeline going back over 20 years.
2006
The Isle of Man government announce a new Lord Street development. Good news but will Never Happen.
Summerland – Meanwhile, in another part of the capital Douglas, the remnants of the Summerland holiday park, which suffered a horrific fire disaster in the 1970s, is demolished. But hopes run high for a new building. Sadly, this will Never Happen, either.
2008
Summerland – The 3.81 acre site at the old Derby Castle finally goes on sale in 2008, categorised as a ‘prime development site’. The sale looks hopeful, but realisation of its potential will Never Happen.
2009
Summerland – A proposal by the Sefton Group for a new leisure centre at Summerland called The Wave is put forward. But again will Never Happen.
2010
Summerland – The Summerland deal collapses and will Never Happen, but the government propose to sell the land again.
2013
Lord Street – Isle of Man government announce another new Lord Street development. But this one will Never Happen.
Park Road School – Demolition work begins on the former secondary school building in the centre of Douglas. Ideas abound to repurpose the site for affordable housing – but this Never Happened.
2014
07 10 14 ‘Building on the former bus station.’ Never Happened.
07 10 14 A government design of the proposed new Lord Street development is unveiled. The concept informed and inspired developers to put in tenders to make the dream come true. One such enterprise – known as the ‘North Quay Consortium’ represented by Sondica Group Limited – stayed faithful to the design and included the winter garden feature. Never happened. Now, today, the North Quay Consortium represented by Sondica Group Incorpoated is suing the IoM government and their consultants Lambert Smith Hampton. Sondica claim that the DoI made unlawful efforts to persuaded LSH to change the report to favour the rival bidder.
The IoM government boasts that investors are keen on their ‘Masterplan’ to redevelop Lord Street. The ‘all-weather wintergarden’ is hyped again in paragraph four of this newspaper story. But again the building Never Happened and is now subject to a £90 million court case. The property dispute is set to spiral out of control, sources close to the case are warning, and the massive potential payout is threatening the IoM’s credit rating.
2015
22 12 2015. Once again, the IoM government announce big news on the Lord Street development. An interested party has been found. The Chief Minister boasts that, unlike previous projects in 2006 and 2013, he’s confident that this scheme will go ahead. The IoM government is confident of making the Tynwald’s approved ‘Masterplan’ a reality, including a much vaunted wintergarden and a hotel. However, the plan, of course, Never Happened. Though, the Chief Minister doesn’t name the interested party, the identity is known behind the scenes as the North Quay Consortium with Sondica Group Incorporated. Now suing the IoM government for £90 million claiming that the bid was bungled. Sondica have also accused LSH of failing to take reasonable care not to misstate, misrepresent or misdescribe their tender and to treat the process fairly and in good faith.
Summerland – Meanwhile at Summerland, also in 2015, it appeared a deal was about to be done for the land – which ofcourse NEVER HAPPENED. The preferred bidder then went into administration and the Summerland site at the far end of Douglas promenade, went back on the market, where it has remained since.
2016
01 04 2016 Within months, the optimism has evaporated. The long-awaited, latest Lord Street development has suffered a ‘setback.’ However, little do the residents know, that the delay is terminal and the project will Never Happen.
01 04 2016 The article reveals that the development has stopped because of a red-tape setback, specifically that the ‘the developers approach is inconsistent with the procurement process.’ Readers now know that the Lord Street development will Never Happen. The North Quay Consortium Represented by Sondica Group Limited later rejected the Government’s excuse, and are suing the Department of Infrastructure and their advisors LSH, for malfeasance, misrepresentation and ‘negligent advice’ in the tendering process – allegations which the defendants deny or do not admit.
06 05 2016 Following their climbdown over the latest Lord Street development bid, the Isle of Man government are forced to advertise for new investors to come forward, inviting building companies to submit fresh plans. The initiative inevitably failed, and the Lord Street development Never Happened. The Infrastructure Minister said that the new process would ensure ‘the best possible value to the taxpayer.’ This turned out to be wrong, there was no value in the project, and the building Never Happened. Now, in court proceedings, Sondica allege tort of negligent misstatement, breach of contract and misfeasance in public office, which the government deny.
2017
16 03 2017 The exasperation of Isle of Man residents is summed up in the headline of the newspaper that has covered the Lord Street roller-coaster from the start: ‘Yet Another Plan for Old Bus Station.’ However, the new plan Never Happened.
The front page revealed that, ‘This work was validated by an external specialist.’ Both the external specialist – a blue chip commercial property consultancy called Lambert Smith Hampton – and the Isle of Man government are now being sued for £90 million by Sondica Group the lead developer of the North Quay Consortium.
16 03 2017 Following the Isle of Man government’s announcement of yet another new plan for Lord Street – the latest in a long line of faltering developments – the headline in the Manx Independent sums up the public’s view on the matter: ‘Lord Street: We’ve Heard it All Before.’ The politician who expressed his cynicism, in a quote in the story, turned out to be right. The Lord Street complex Never Happened.
2018
16 02 2018 The front-page headline was optimistic. A developer called Kane Limited claimed Lord Street would be built into a cinema, a hotel, flats and bars. Never Happened.
The Chief Minister said, ‘…we don’t want this to be like other administrations where plans have been announced and never happened.’ Unfortunately, his plans Never happened, the site area in the graphic is still a car park, and the alleged mistakes under his administration have led to a £90 million court case being launched.
2019
17 01 2019: The headline, ‘They misled us over Lord Street’ is a summary of a court case launched by developers North Quay Consortium represented by the Sondica Group Limited against the Department of Infrastructure and their consultants Lambert Smith Hampton. The quayside facilities Never Happened. But why? Sondica was initially chosen for the bid but then the offer was withdrawn a month later. Sondica are claiming negligent misstatement, which the defendant denies or does not admit, and after Five years later the £90 million case has still not settled. The Isle of Man government’s plan Never Happened but but deemster Corlett ruled that Sondica had a potential and arguable cause of action.
17 01 2019: Headline: ‘Dispute over whether the government promised to underwrite development.’ Sondica Group Limited is asking in the court why their developed Never happened?
18 07 2019 Unrelated story about generic contracts’ failure on the IoM
18 07 2019 The government of the Isle of Man is being sued for £90 million by property developers North Quay represented by Sondica for an alleged misstatement which led to claims that the tender process was bungled. This led the and a judge ruled that the case could proceed. However, the Department of Infrastructure appealed the decision – but lost. The Lord Street development at the centre of the case Never happened.
2022
Plans are abandoned for a new school on the old site.
2023
21 07 2023 The DoI is accused of negligence oner the Lord Street development which Never Happened.
Park Road School – The Department of Education, Sport and Culture retains the site as an option a new school.
21 07 2023 The legal wrangle on the Lord Street development which Never Happened continues]
2024
28 05 2024 Though the £90 million court case over the Lord Steet development which Never Happened rumbles on the background, yet another new plan is hatched to finally build on the site
20 05 2024 The Headline tells the story of a new plan. However, residents are sceptical as for 20 years repeatedly fresh plans have resulted in a building which Never Happened
Park Road School – Education Minister says that former high school could be “part of the solution” for a new primary facility for the area.
But Joney Faragher MHK said: “It really shouldn’t be left undeveloped 11 years after the former school’s demolition.”
2025
The New Year does not bode well for the IoM government and its well respected property advisor Lambert Smith Hampton.
There’s a flurry of bad headlines claiming that their bad decisions will potentially cost the IoM government a whopping £90 million, which in turn will rock the island’s traditionally stable international credit rating.
Manx News: Case Has “More Than a Smattering” of Ranson Issues
IoM Today: Company claiming damages of up to £90m against Isle of Man Government
Gef.Im: Damages Of Up To £90m Claimed Against Isle Of Man Government
