Port St Mary has had a change of heart and joined other local authorities in the south in a shared list for public sector housing.

The shared list - trialled from 2016 and launched in April 2017 - gives applicants a choice of properties across the south in Arbory, Castletown, Malew, Port Erin, Rushen, Santon and now in Port St Mary.Its success inspired similar lists to be established in the east and north.Port St Mary at first took a cautious approach to the list.

The commissioners’ chairman Michelle Haywood said: ’We wanted to see how it worked to start with.’

One it was clear that the shared list uses the same points system that Port St Mary uses, the board was happy to join it.

Remaining outside the shared list meant that people wishing to live in Port St Mary could apply to live only there.

Now they can apply to live elsewhere in the south.

Commissioner Andy Phair proposed at a private session of a meeting in July that the authority should join the list.

He was seconded by Ian Skelly and supported unanimously.

Dr Haywood said: ’It makes sense to give tenants the best choice available. We see how it’s working.

’The sensible thing is to join. There is no personal sway (under the points system). There is a very transparent, clear set of guidelines.

’The shared list provides the greatest opportunity to get people in need into reasonably priced, well-maintained accommodation as quickly as possible.

’It also offers people on the waiting list more areas of choice, and broadens the horizons for those already on the waiting list for Port St Mary.’

Julie Edge, the MHK with responsibility for public estates and housing, said: ’This is excellent news for both applicants on Port St Mary’s list who might wish to live further afield, and those in the southern region who may now be offered a property in the village.

’The fact that so many applicants are choosing "anywhere in the southern region" as their first choice demonstrates that the shared list principle is working, and I welcome Port St Mary joining the initiative.’

Does this pave the way for further collaboration between authorities?

’Ã don’t think there is a huge appetite for formal merging of boards,’ said Dr Haywood ’There is an appetite for working together and we are doing that.

’A lot of collaboration already goes on.’

New applicants should apply to the southern region housing waiting list by picking up an application form from their nearest local authority offices or from the housing section of the Department of Infrastructure in Douglas or at gov.im.