EP26

Policy: EP26 - Environment Policy 26

loped land is an important element in achieving regeneration and sustainable development objectives and to improve both the built and living environment. This is supported by paragraph 7.20.2 and Environment Policy 26 of the Strategic Plan. Development proposals on contaminated and/or unstable land, or where previous land use may indicate some level of contamination, must include an assessment of the extent of contamination and/or instability and any possible risks.

Transport and Utilities

Introduction

This Chapter focuses on Transport (roads, public transport, cycleways, footpaths) and Utilities (energy, telecommunications, water supply, sewerage drainage and electricity).

This Plan addresses infrastructure issues within distinct Chapters but it is impossible to plan for different kinds of infrastructure in isolation. The work undertaken to support this plan has included comprehensive site assessments looking at all aspects of development and needs in terms of supporting infrastructure, as well as scenario testing work which looked at broad development patterns and the implications on infrastructure as a whole. Issues relating to roads and utilities are often referred to as grey infrastructure and were discussed in the scenario testing work in these terms. Ahead of sections on 'area plan objectives' and 'area plan desired outcomes' in this Chapter, there is a brief discussion of two important long term infrastructure strategies which set the broad context for the preparation of the Area Plan for the East. This Plan incorporates the objectives of both the National Infrastructure Strategy and the Harbour Strategy and is in support of their desired aims.

Strategic Plan Implementation - Transport and Utilities

The Isle of Man Strategic Plan contains specific strategic policy in respect of transport and other grey infrastructure. The Chapters on Strategic Objectives and Strategic Policies state that development needs to:

• optimise the use of previously developed land;
• use sites efficiently;
• utilise existing and planned infrastructure, facilities and services;
• minimise journeys by private car, make best use of public transport, not adversely affect highway safety for all users, encourage pedestrian movement;
• be located and designed to promote a more integrated transport network;
• encourage the efficient use of energy;
• safeguard the efficient operation of the Island's ports for fishing, commercial and leisure use without compromising environmental objectives; and be well served by modern telecommunications without compromising the protection of the landscape.

The overall objective for these may be summed up as being to protect public-benefiting utilities and other assets and enable the orderly provision and co-ordination of these and other facilities for the benefit of the community.

Since the Strategic Plan 2016 was adopted, some changes have occurred relevant to the services and utilities - changes to titles of service authorities and suppliers and changes to strategies and service types and terms used to describe those types. None of these changes alter the intention of the policies in the Strategic Plan and are thus taken into account in this Area Plan as natural evolutions of business operations.

All-Island Strategies

National Infrastructure Strategy15

While the Area Plan for the East is a short to medium term document, the National Infrastructure Strategy (NIS) aims to ensure there is an integrated, reliable, secure and resilient provision of Island-wide infrastructure that meets the social and economic needs of the Island up to 2050.

The document presents an audit of the Island's current infrastructure, sets out the available capacities for each key asset and identifies any known issues with supply. It then examines a number of factors which could impact on the future provision of the Island's infrastructure: the Island's population and age structure, the spatial distribution of development, the economic situation of the Island, climate change, technological change and the need to meet national and international obligations and regulations. Finally, consideration is given to the obsolescence of each of the Island's key assets. Key assets in the East identified in the document are:

• Douglas and Laxey harbours
• Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) facility at Pulrose and the Energy-from-Waste Facility at Richmond Hill
• Gas pipeline for Glen Mooar to Pulrose Power Station
• LPG stores in Douglas
• The Douglas Water Treatment Works
• West Baldwin, Clypse and Kerrowdhoo Reservoirs
• Meary Veg sludge treatment facility

The NIS Strategy identifies the following issues faced by specific assets:

• Flood risk to the National Sports Centre, Douglas Fire Station, Banks Circus bus depot, Douglas Railway Station, Pulrose Power Station and Pulrose Bridge after major flooding occurred in 2015; and
• traffic congestion at Quarterbridge and Governor's Hill roundabouts.

The Strategy concludes that the Island's key assets are currently ma