The UK’s biggest homebuilder is considering a multi-million pound project to redevelop the former Summerland site, it was claimed in Tynwald today.

Backbench MHK Chris Robertshaw revealed details during a debate on spending £1.5m on reconstructing the Strathallan horse tram depot.

Mr Robertshaw said he had received an email that morning from fellow Douglas East MHK Clare Bettison who indicated she would not be able to vote in the motion as she was conflicted.

He said: ’I inquired from her what that reason is. She was reluctant to discuss the matter with me for obvious reasons and passed me on to Berkeley Holdings Ltd.’

Mr Robertshaw said he had spoken to Berkerley - the UK’s biggest homebuilder and third biggest development company - and was ’given to understand they have made ’representations to the department with regard to a multi, multi-million pound project at Summerland’.

’I further understand that they intend to travel to the island to meet with the Minister in January.’

He said under the plan, the island would effectively get a new tram depot for nothing as well as a multi-million pound project.

Mr Robertshaw urged the Minister to do nothing that would ’preclude entertaining such an important project’.

We have asked Berkeley Holdings to provide a statement.