An MHK has sought assurances there will be no last-minute additions to proposals contained within a planning blueprint for the east of the island.

A public inquiry into the Eastern Area Plan is due to be held in September.

The plan covers Douglas, Onchan, Braddan, Marown, Santon, Laxey and Lonan.

Final documents are due to be published ahead of that inquiry. Some of the proposed re-zoning of land to free it up for housing has led to criticism while others have questioned the population projections used.

Bill Shimmins (Middle) raised concerns in Tynwald that the final documents, when published, could include new proposals and not leave opponents enough time to object to them.

Mr Shimmins, whose constituency includes Braddan, Marown and Santon, said: ’My understanding is that in previous area plans additional sites have been brought forward at the last moment by developers and this is causing concern for many of my constituents.’

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas acknowledged that there had been a successful legal challenge during the Southern Area Plan process.

He told Mr Shimmins: ’The Area Plan for the East will be produced in compliance with the law, and the procedure will be followed in terms of consultation and making information available equally to everybody involved.’

He added: ’I do not believe we are at that stage where new sites are being proposed.’

At the same sitting, members also called for latest population projections to be used during the public inquiry, after concern that earlier projections of growth had not been realised.

The Minister said: ’The household size, population trends and the future in the light of the past will all be absolutely fundamental in the inspector’s mind and they are in our mind as we prepare evidence papers for submission to the inspector in advance of the inquiry.’

The public inquiry into the Eastern Area Plan was delayed until September.

The government attributing the delay to difficulty in finding an independent inspector to oversee it and the high level of responses to the consultation.