THERE must be a new approach to planning in order to support the Isle of Man's economy.
That's the view of the Island's Infrastructure Minister David Cretney MHK who has issued a planning policy statement for consultation.
The release of the document coincides with the Budget for the next financial year being announced earlier today (February 21).
According to the Department of Infrastructure the consultation will aim to clarify the interpretation of the Island's strategic plan and is just one of a number of proposed changes to the planning system.
It says these changes are aimed at increasing customer focus, efficiency and delivering better value for money.
Mr Cretney explained: "The government is committed to promoting a strong, stable, and productive economy that aims to bring jobs and prosperity for all. In doing so the government is committed to delivering further economic growth and diversification.
"Achieving sustainable economic growth requires a fast, efficient and responsive planning system that includes a presumption in favour of development, whilst protecting the countryside and enhancing the quality of the natural and built environment, which supports growth alongside regeneration, social and environmental sustainability, and has a greater emphasis on the quality of design.
"It is essential that the planning system considers, and makes appropriate provision for, the identified national needs of the entire economy and assists in steering economic development to the most appropriate locations."
Mr Cretney added that he believed it was in the "national interest" that planning officers, the planning committee and planning inspectors adopted a positive and constructive approach to determining planning applications and appeals.
Howard Quayle, the chairman of the planning committee said: "I would urge planning applicants proposing development, which will provide significant economic benefits, to work with the Department of Economic Development to ensure that the economic benefits associated with a proposed project are clearly demonstrated and assessed before submitting a planning application.
"This will enable myself and the planning committee to give adequate consideration to economic matters along with social and environmental issues in the decision making process."
Members of the public who have an opinion on planning and economic development in the Island have been asked to consider and respond to the consultation document which can be viewed by clicking here.
The consultation will close on April 3. After the consultation is finished the department will, if appropriate, arrange for the planning policy statement to be considered for approval by Tynwald.
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