The Department of Infrastructure is revising its arrangements for the publication of the weekly list of planning applications.
After Friday 10 October, the publication list will no longer appear in the local press. New arrangements will come into effect from Friday 17 October, with the intention of saving a significant proportion of the ?38,000 spent during the last financial year on preparing, designing and publishing the press notices.
Planning applications will still be published on the Department’s website at http://www.gov.im/weeklyplanninglists as well as being sent to local authorities and libraries in the Isle of Man. Applicants are also required to display the traditional yellow planning notices at an application site.
In addition, anyone can ask to receive an email each week to notify them when the publication list appears online.
The Department is continually looking at ways to provide its services more efficiently. Infrastructure is responsible for achieving cost savings of ?5 million in the current financial year, which is half of Government’s overall target for 2014-15.
Chris Thomas MHK, Member of DoI with responsibility for Planning and Building Control, said: ‘Planning applications may not appear in the public notices section of the newspaper in future, but we will do what we can to enable the general public, potential interested parties, local authorities and journalists to have the information they need.’
He added: ‘I would encourage people to supply their email address to receive a planning list email alert, especially residents associations and others who have always had a keen interest in planning issues within their communities. Telling neighbours about a planning application would also be helpful. The Department has suspended publication of the weekly planning list in the newspaper, but will carry out a review of the new arrangements and connected issues, and listen to any feedback.’
To be added to the email list, call Planning and Building Control on 685950 or email planning@gov.im
As part of its planning services, the Department of Infrastructure provides the website https://www.gov.im/planningapplication/services/planning/search.iom that enables people to search for planning applications and view related information.
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