The Isle of Man Government has welcomed Tynwald's decision to approve in principle the creation of a Statutory Board to own and manage Government's land and property assets, subject to further detail being brought back on resourcing and budgetary arrangements.
Government’s land and property estate comprises more than 1,800 assets with an estimated value of £1.37 billion. While the estate is extensive and valuable, its ownership and management are currently fragmented across departments.
This approach is regarded as no longer sustainable and that a single, strategic and accountable governance structure is essential to improve efficiency, consistency and transparency across the public estate.
The proposed Statutory Board would consolidate ownership and provide professional, whole estate management, including planning, maintenance, development, leasing and protection. This would create a clear point of accountability, support long term asset planning aligned with national priorities and enable departments to focus on their core statutory responsibilities rather than managing property as a secondary function.
A Tiered Framework has been developed to classify assets and define the level of responsibility between the Statutory Board and individual departments, depending on the nature of the asset and how it is used.
The framework ranges from Tier 1, which is where the Statutory Board acts as a fully centralised landlord and applies to assets such as office buildings and commercially let property, through to Tier 4 which is reserved for specialised assets where a department has the necessary estate management capability in-house and can retain full control with minimal interference. This includes assets such as the prison and the airport runway.
Treasury Minister Chris Thomas MHK said:
‘I am pleased that Tynwald has supported the principle of creating a Statutory Board for Government land and property. This decision marks the beginning of the transition to a more strategic and professionally managed public estate, not the end of the process. The debate was constructive and highlighted areas where Members want greater clarity, particularly around resources and costs.’
Engagement with Tynwald Members and those directly affected will continue as the proposals are refined, with the aim of ensuring Government land and property are managed efficiently, transparently and in the long-term interests of the Isle of Man, delivering value for money for taxpayers.
The Treasury intends to bring further detail back to Tynwald in the summer.
