SP

Foreword

financial support to those who need it. As we dare to look to the future we can take comfort in the specialness of our Island as we start to rebuild in every sense of the word.

By having the responsibility for the Island's planning policy function, I am aware that we need to have up to date development plans in place for when we need them - they are the land-use planning part of the Island's measures to 'rebuild'. I am committed to progressing with our plan-making to support the local needs of our economy, our environment and climate change goals, our public services, our infrastructure and our health and social well-being.

Bringing the Area Plan for the East into operation remains one of the priority actions for planning in the Programme for Government 2016-2021. For much of its development, I contributed through my former Ministerial role in the Department of Infrastructure and it is plain to me now just how widely the Island Development Plan as a whole stretches into policy development in every Department.

I appreciate that preparing this Plan has taken time, but the procedural requirements exist to ensure transparency and opportunities for full engagement by Government Departments, Local Authorities, land-owners and developers, local interest groups and residents alike.

The Report of the Public Inquiry, published in November 2019, and the responses to the Modifications, published in February 2020, have shaped the final changes to the content and format of the Plan. It now forms part of the statutory 'Island Development Plan', and specifically provides a local framework for how Douglas and the surrounding settlements are likely to grow, change or stay the same for the remainder of the Plan Period (up to 2026). It replaces all extant plans and is a material consideration when planning applications are determined.

Recent events have led to some questions whether the timing is right to release the Plan. I believe firmly that it is. I would like to thank all those who have contributed throughout this Plan's development. Such engagement is invaluable and makes for a more rounded and robust plan and ensures matters and sites are fully scrutinised.

I look forward to seeing how the Area Plan for the East influences change as we embrace our digital, green and safe Island.

Ray Harmer, MHK
Minister for Policy and Reform

Contents

• An 'Area' approach to Plan making ..................................................................... 1
• The Role of the Area Plan for the East ................................................................ 7
• Spatial Vision in the East ................................................................................. 13
• Landscape Character and Appearance............................................................... 17
• The Natural Environment ................................................................................. 34
• The Urban Environment ................................................................................... 48
• Transport and Utilities ..................................................................................... 57
• Employment ................................................................................................... 71
• Town Centres ................................................................................................. 81
• Tourism ......................................................................................................... 90
• Open Space and Recreation, Education, Health and other Community Facilities .... 95
• Residential ................................................................................................... 101
• Comprehensive Treatment Areas .................................................................... 127

Appendices

Appendix 1 Additional background information on Employment Land 134

Appendix 2 Recommendations set out in the Retail Study 2009 138

Appendix 3 Extracts from the Draft Area Plan for the East 'Household Size and Population Projections Paper DP EP5 (June 2019)

An 'Area' approach to Plan making

What is an Area Plan?

1.1 The Cabinet Office has a responsibility, afforded to it by Section 2 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999, to prepare the Island Development Plan (IDP). The purpose of the IDP is to set out the general 'Policies' in respect of the development and other use of land on the Isle of Man, and also to identify the 'Proposals' which relate to specific places or issues, depending on the particular plan area. The two types of plan prepared and which make up the 'Island Development Plan' are:

• a strategic plan, and
• one or more area plans.

1.2 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 (the Strategic Plan) was approved by Tynwald on 15th March 2016, coming into operation on 1st April 2016. In hierarchical terms, the strategic plan sits above the area plans in the sense that the proposal in an area plan shall be in general conformity with the strategi