Development plan update expected in new year

Changes to a report zoning future development land on the the Isle of Man will be published in the new year, the Cabinet Office has confirmed.

The Area Plan for the North and West outlines areas in the regions that can be used for housing or industrial use, and which should be retained as green spaces.

Updates recommended by an independent planning inspector included rejecting the inclusion of land at Ramsey's Poyll Dooey for residential development.

The department said residents would be able to express opinions on the proposed modifications during a 10-week consultation that would follow their publication.

The plan encompasses the towns of Peel and Ramsey, as well as the parishes of German, Patrick, Jurby, Andreas, Bride, Ballaugh, Lezayre and the Maughold ward of Garff.

A draft was published in 2022 before being significantly altered in March this year before become the subject of a public inquiry.

In his conclusions, the independent planning inspector found the draft plan currently "does not achieve the requisite general conformity with current Isle of Man strategic planning policy".

But the inspector stated that it would conform if a raft of major changes outlined in the report were implemented.

They included rejecting the inclusion of land at Ramsey's Poyll Dooey for residential development and the removal of the Jurby Airfield safeguarding zone.

It also found that flood alleviation schemes for Peel and Ramsey harbours should be "supported in principle" only if the impact on nature conservation sites and biosecurity was assessed first.

In a statement, the Cabinet Office said it had been "considering the detailed document" and would announce "when and where details of proposed modifications" would be made available early in the new year.

Anyone with an interest would then "have the opportunity to make representations and objections on the proposed modifications" during the consultation period, it added.

The final area plan can only be implemented once adopted by the Cabinet Office and approved by Tynwald.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [email protected]