The Policy and Reform Minister has floated proposals for a new regional approach to regeneration schemes.

Chris Thomas revealed in the House of Keys he was keen to seek views on plans to create four economic zones for the island - in the north, south, east and west.

In his Budget speech last week, Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan said traditional methods of supporting regeneration were not operating as effectively as they could, leaving many vacant sites in our towns and villages.

He said it was his intention that Treasury will bring an innovative scheme to Tynwald.

In the Keys, the Policy and Reform Minister said the Local Regeneration Committees have been successful in implementing projects across the island.

But while much has been achieved, the current focus on the island’s main town and villages is considered to be restrictive, he said, as it does not allow the full range of issues to be considered.

He explained: ’For example, much of our employment land does not fall within the designated regeneration areas which focus on the island’s main retail centres.’

To remedy this, a new model is being considered which takes a regional approach to the Regeneration Scheme, he said.

This would allow all-island coverage and a broader range of issues to be targeted by newly formed Regional Economic Partnerships.

Mr Thomas said over the next few months he intends to seek the views of Regeneration Committee members, CoMin, MHKs and others concerned with how we take this forward.

’It is my intention to meet with each of the local regeneration committees in the coming months. The details of how the new approach would work are not set and I am keen to find the best way of evolving their important role,’ he said.

But Lawrie Hooper (LibVan, Ramsey) queried why what seems like another level of bureaucracy was being created, when local authorities were already actively engaged in this area.

But Mr Thomas insisted: ’A proposal has been floated. We’ve not made a decision in advance.’