Charity Age Concern has submitted plans for a health and well-being centre for the over 50s in Douglas town centre.

The application (20/00427/B) is for units 71-21 Market Street, Douglas.

Age Concern plans to make window alterations, install glazed entrance frontage to replace the exiting roller garage doors, a lift shaft and roof lights to create a health and well-being venue for people over 50 years old.

Plans outline that the centre would be based over three floors. The ground floor would act as the entrance and reception area, with chairs and tables laid out to allow a ’space for social connection’.

The first floor would include disabled access created by the construction of a lift, the L-shape building will allow learning and activity spaces to be used and a sliding wall will allow flexibility with this.

The second floor would predominantly be used for offices with space for 12 people.

Throughout the building, energy efficient and carbon-reduction measures plus renewable energy systems will be installed wherever possible, including LED lightning and new insulation throughout the building.

In its application, Age Concern said: ’This project will create an easily accessible 50+ health and well-being centre for older people who live in the largest population centre in the island, or who are visiting the shops, government services and businesses which will enable older people to improve their health and well-being, access information and support, and meet up and make friends.’

It added that it wants the centre to ’serve as a destination in its own right, with a warm and friendly welcome, access to information and support, social and learning opportunities, a pleasurable experience for people who may have become isolated or demotivated due to poor health or bereavement’.