Ministers will attempt to put a stop notice on some of the more far-reaching proposals for urban regeneration, set to be debated in Tynwald next week.

A select committee has outlined its blueprint for how to bring ’new life back into the island’s towns’ and at the same time put a brake on urban sprawl.

It includes ’urgent action’ to introduce tax incentives and other measures to discourage greenfield development and the creation of a public/private development agency.

But the government is to table amendments that, if supported, would water down the recommendations contained within the select committee’s report on development of unoccupied urban sites.

The report recommends that Tynwald demands that government departments ’use every means at their disposal to encourage and prioritise the development of unoccupied or previously developed urban sites ahead of building on greenfield sites in the Manx countryside’.

But the Council of Ministers claims this would result in ’confusion’.

Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot and Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas have compiled a CoMin response to the recommendations.

Reacting to that particular recommendation, they say: ’There is concern that the wording will affect the speed, effectiveness and quality of decision-making and potentially reduce the supply of and choice of land/buildings available.’

CoMin plans to table an amendment that would change the wording to say, ’use all reasonable means at their disposal to encourage where possible â?¦’.

The select committee also recommends that Tynwald states ’urgent action should be taken’ to:

â?¢ Set up flexible development zones in Douglas;

â?¢ Transfer control of all government land and buildings to a single strategic body;

â?¢ Set up a development agency in partnership with local government and the private sector;

â?¢ Use the planning system, taxation and other potential incentives to discourage greenfield development;

â?¢ Use the planning system, taxation and other potential incentives to encourage brownfield development in development zones in Douglas and in other urban areas.

But, CoMin will seek to pull back on the call for ’urgent action’ and replace that wording with ’consideration should be given’.

It will also call for the proposal with regard to introducing measures discouraging greenfield development to be rejected, to allow ’better focus on positive action’ as set out in the final point.

The select committee was chaired by Middle MHK Bill Shimmins, who made the original call for an inquiry.

During a Tynwald debate in April, he warned that the ’vitality’ was being sucked out of town centres while the countryside was being concreted over.

His committee’s report comments on a lack of a register of brownfield with sites with potential for development and recommends that the Cabinet Office gives a regular update on planning approvals given in brownfield and greenfield areas.

The Council of Ministers has no objection to this proposal.

The report concludes: ’There is significant support in principle for the encouragement and prioritisation of the development of unoccupied or previously developed urban sites ahead of building on greenfield sites in the Manx countryside.

’Despite that support, we have seen a considerable amount of development on greenfield sites in recent years and that the pace of development in our towns - Douglas in particular - has been disappointing.’

It adds: ’Tynwald has at its disposal a range of policy levers which have the potential to reverse the trend and breathe new life back into the island’s towns.’