The chairman of the public inquiry into the area plan for the east will look at population figures.

Michael Hurley, a retired assistant chief planning inspector for England and Wales, will chair the inquiry, which will start in September.

During the pre-inquiry meeting to outline the scope and organisation of the inquiry into plans for future development in the east of the island, Mr Hurley said he was aware of the difference between the predicted and actual population figures in the island.

Responding to a question from Middle MHK Bill Shimmins about the ’disconnect’ between the figures, Mr Hurley said he had been made aware of the recent debate on the issue and would be seeking to address it.

Mr Hurley said: ’I don’t want to repeat this several times with various witnesses, so I will be seeking to hold an informal round table forum to discuss this matter.

’I have been informed the Attorney General’s office will be available to provide the inquiry with any legal advice needed. And so I will be seeking to set out the legal concerns between the strategic plan and the area plan for the east.

’This may include the scope for departing from the precise details if it is recommended a lower number of dwellings should be provided in the area plan than in the strategic plan.’

He later added in response to a separate question that ’the targeted population increase of 500 a year has not happened’.

He added: ’There is no evidence to indicate that the target of 500 people a year has been achieved in any year’.

However, this too came with a warning that as the strategic plan has not been amended ’it still must guide the area plan’.

And he confirmed any legal advice would be published.

But Mr Hurley did point out that his recommendations for the inquiry were not binding and that it would be up to the Cabinet Office and Tynwald to decide whether to accept them.

In response to a question from Jane Poole-Wilson MLC, Mr Hurley also confirmed that he plans all written submissions to the inquiry to be made public.

What Mr Hurley could not confirm however was how long the inquiry would take or when he would publish his report.

He said the Cabinet Office had anticipated a ’three to four week’ inquiry and he would need ’about three weeks per week of evidence’ to make his judgement.

With the inquiry starting on September 10, that means Mr Hurley should be ready to make recommendations to the Cabinet Office either late this year or early in 2020.

There is also the chance the inquiry could be broadcast live.

Mr Hurley said he had ’no objection to broadcasting procedures’. And he said the Cabinet Office should look into whether it would be possible should anyone seek for it to be broadcast live.