BP6

Policy: BP6 - Business Policy 6

Business Policy 6: Where land is zoned in Area Plans for industrial use, the Department will include development briefs which identify any particular local needs.

9.3 Commerce

9.3.1 Commerce, and in particular the finance industry, has become our most significant industry in terms of contribution to both the GDP and employment. Additionally, professional and scientific services contribute 15% to the GDP and 18.2% to employment, whilst public administration contributes a further 4% to the GDP and 8% to employment.

9.3.2 Most of this activity is located in our town centres and in particular in Douglas, although there are also office developments in Onchan, Ramsey, Castletown, Peel, Port Erin, Port St Mary, Laxey and Ballasalla.

9.3.3 The Department has supported the location of offices in town and village centres for several reasons:

1. such centres are accessible to all members of the community, staff and visitors alike;
2. the activity and range of services contribute to the vitality and success of the centres; and
3. the investment in property can be used to renew the ageing fabric of our town centre buildings.

9.3.4 There are exceptions to this general approach:

1. Corporate Headquarters which do not attract day to day callers may usually be located on one of the Business Parks;
2. some of our larger buildings of acknowledged historic or architectural interest are unsuited to any but office use, which thus represents the best or possibly only opportunity to secure re-use of the building; and
3. working from home; where this does not result either in staff being employed or in day to day callers, there need be no detriment to the residential area, and there should be less travelling involved; this is also one way of encouraging the formation of new local businesses.

The Department therefore proposes that, with these exceptions, the established policy for the location of new office space should be continued.