More homes left vacant due to building plans

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said the number of empty public sector properties on the island had been increasing due to major construction programmes.

In response to a written question from Onchan presiding councillor Rob Callister about the figures, he said there were 165 properties vacant at the end of last year, compared with 147 the year before and 117 the year before that.

Mr Krukar said the rise in prices could be due to some homes being vacant because they needed to be demolished or rebuilt.

He said two such schemes were School Hill in Castletown and Cooley Marrey in Ramsey.