Initial steps have been taken in developing a Ronaldsway Masterplan with workshops being held involving over 25 stakeholders from the public and private sector who have land or property in the Airport and Ronaldsway area.
The Masterplan aims to optimise the economic opportunities for the area and allow sites to be marketed more effectively. Ronaldsway Airport and the surrounding industrial area have been identified as being of key strategic importance, both in the Area Plan for the South and in the Government’s recently completed Employment Land Review.
The development of a Ronaldsway Masterplan was announced by Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK in his Agenda for Change speech in July’s Tynwald as part of the ‘Enterprise Isle’ initiatives to support the growth of the Island’s economy.
The event was opened by Laurence Skelly MHK and was also attended by Graham Cregeen MHK and Richard Ronan MHK.
Laurence Skelly MHK, Minister for the Department of Economic Development, commented:
‘The Ronaldsway area is a key point of entry and business “Gateway” to the Isle of Man. The workshops were created to identify the initial views on the role of the area in the future, the markets it needs to develop and the actions needed to support its development over the next 10 to 15 years.
‘Over the coming weeks and months the input from these events will be used as a foundation to create a framework for future development in the area.’
Graham Cregeen MHK, the Department’s Political Member with responsibility for employment and skills commented:
‘I am very excited about the future of this project and I believe that it will bring additional jobs to the south of the island. Many of the existing businesses in the area such as RLC Ronaldsway, Strix, Element 6, Precimatic, Manx Precision Optics and Highland Scientific are key companies within our high-tech manufacturing sector which is forecast to grow healthily over the next ten years.
‘I would also like to thank the participants for their time, enthusiasm and valuable contributions to the workshops.’
