The government should use ’all reasonable means’ to encourage the redevelopment of urban sites over greenfield sites.

A progress report will be supplied to June’s sitting of Tynwald by Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas.

It explores the recommendations made by the select committee on the development of unoccupied urban sites. The report, created by members from across several government departments including Enterprise, Infrastructure and Environment, Food and Agriculture was instructed to examine the recommendations from that committee, which were accepted in full by Tynwald in November 2018.

Urban sites

The select committee, chaired by Bill Shimmins MHK recommended that ’Tynwald calls upon the Council of Ministers and all departments to use all reasonable means at their disposal to encourage, where possible, the development of unoccupied or previously developed urban sites ahead of building on greenfield sites’.

In his report, Mr Thomas (pictured) said that the government has accepted this recommendation. Developers would be encouraged to consider the ’attractiveness, accessibility and amenity of unoccupied or previously developed urban sites’.

This would include balancing the need for sustainable socioeconomic growth and the conservation of the island’s ’heritage, natural beauty and biosphere’.

However, the working party has rejected the idea that all government land should be transferred to a single body.

environment

Mr Thomas’ report said: ’The Isle of Man Government has explored and understands the merit of central control but does not see merit in regarding all land and buildings as being equivalent.

’The built and natural environment is managed very differently and for very different purposes. Operational facilities such as offices, the hospital and the airport are managed to support their function. Some surplus land is of minimal worth and limited potential interest.

’However, it is accepted that large unoccupied urban sites must continue to be developed in the best interest of the economy. Treasury is working with other departments to identify a detailed proposal.’

The interdepartmental working party has also been considering recommendations including the Cabinet Office publishing ’at regular intervals’ data on planning approvals given and taken up in brownfield and greenfield sites.

Mr Thomas’ report said the residential land availability study is an ’annually-updated series that has been published since 2007’. And that data has been ’collected and analysed since 2001’.

He added: ’From 2020, the data set will be cross-referenced to identify residential approvals and the take-up of those approvals that fall into defined categories such as brownfield and greenfield sites.’