The Isle of Man Government has issued a ‘Call for Sites’ which will help inform the preparation of the Area Plan for the East.

The Area Plan will set out detailed proposals and identify development sites in line with the broad policies set out in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. The Plan Boundary will cover the Borough of Douglas, the District of Onchan and the Parishes of Braddan, Garff (Laxey and Lonan Wards only), Marown and Santon.

By giving the opportunity to suggest sites at the start of the Plan process, the Call for Sites exercise will help the Cabinet Office to compile a list of possible development sites in the East, ahead of any specific site assessment process.

The Call for Sites goes out to landowners, developers, Government Departments and Statutory Boards, Local Authorities as well as other groups and members of the public. Land is expected to be put forward for housing and employment uses, but the Cabinet Office is keen at this stage to encourage suggestions for other uses. This will assist the preparation of a comprehensive plan, which will guide development in the East for the next 10 years and beyond.

John Shimmin MHK, Minister for Policy and Reform, said: ‘A new Plan for the East is critical to the sustainable development of our main centre and the surrounding district and parishes. The new Area Plan will replace all of the current development plans in operation with a coherent, forward-looking, single planning document. The Plan will ensure sufficient land is identified to support economic growth, to satisfy housing need and to address the land use needs of our communities. It will set out how issues specific to the East will be dealt with. The Plan will do all of this while taking into account the implications of development on our infrastructure including our highway network as well as on our existing settlements.’

The Minister added: ‘There will be public consultation at all of the key stages in preparing the Area Plan and everyone is encouraged to get involved. The Cabinet Office will endeavour to keep the public up to date with progress and engage as much as possible with Local Authorities and key stakeholders at appropriate times throughout the process.’

The Call for Sites response form, an explanatory note, details about how sites will be assessed and various maps are available on the Government website at www.gov.im/tape

The forms can be completed online via the link on the website. Alternatively, material can be emailed to planningpolicy@gov.im or posted to Planning Policy Team, Cabinet Office, Sea Terminal, Douglas, IM1 2RF.

The deadline for Response Forms to the ‘Call for Sites for the East’ is 5pm on Friday 16 September 2016.

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