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The Town and Country Planning Act

The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act (2019) is now in force.

The following documents are available:

The Planning Action Plan undertook to make changes to the Act to introduce the following changes.

  • New powers for the subsequent introduction of National Policy Directives which, with Tynwald approval, could override the Development Plan to better meet our needs. This will enable changes in policy to be brought about more quickly, when necessary, to continue to meet the Island’s needs. This will make the planning system much more responsive to changing circumstances and expectations.
  • A new Community Infrastructure Levy taking effect in early 2020. This will ensure new developments help fund the accompanying wider changes which bring economic, environmental and social benefits.
  • The powers to introduce a method for faster minor amendments to existing planning approvals by the end of 2019. This will reduce bureaucracy and ensure a proportionate approach to very minor changes.
  • Introduce a definition of ‘General Importance to the Island’’ as set out in Section 11(1)(a) of the Act. This will ensure applications which are key to Government priorities are better identified and considered (‘called in’) to Council of Ministers.
  • Discretionary powers for the Cabinet Office to appoint a planning advisory body under Section 40 of the Act. This will allow more flexibility in how Government involves stakeholders in policy matters, to ensure we are able to fully understand their views, without extra bureaucracy.
  • Explicitly define the statutory basis for Planning Committee(s) and their decisions. This will provide further definition regarding the legal status and powers of Planning Committees. A Planning Bill has been produced and supported by both branches of Tynwald.

The Planning Amendment Act has been developed to implement the above.

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