The current Building Control Act 1991 is 17 years old. The Department has reviewed it and the regulations which emanate from it as there have been many changes globally and locally affecting the building and construction industry. The Department has drawn up draft proposals seeking to respond to such changes, and is now seeking views on these proposals to assist in the creation of new legislation to help and guide the industry.

The development of an Area Plan for the South has been helped considerably by local response to the public leaflet exercise. Comments made about the key issues were able to be incorporated into the ‘Issues and Options’ document, which was published in July 2008 for public consultation. Response to this document has been very encouraging but we feel there is still more that we can learn from the local communities within the South. Six community events scheduled in the South during the first three weeks in March will provide an opportunity for local people to explore and discuss the key challenges and issues facing their area. The event has been designed to encourage people to talk to Department’s Officers and write down, in an informal manner, what you like and don’t like about your area and what your hopes are for the future. See link above, then click on "Useful Links" to news release showing dates and venues.

The purpose of the consultation is to develop and draft subordinate legislation in respect of the remaining operator licensing provisions of the Road Transport Act 2001.

In 2005, the Department made changes to the planning system, following the consultation in 2002 on a paper called “Modernising the Planning System”. The Department is now seeking views on these changes. There has also been an independent review of the planning system, which was undertaken following a Resolution of Tynwald. This Planning Peer Review has resulted in the production of a report of the findings made, and the Department is also publishing this for consultation.

The Department has published the Issues and Options Report for the Southern Area Plan. This paper sets out the main issues of concern within the Southern Area and, where appropriate, sets out options for dealing with these.

We are now seeking responses to the Issues and Options Report. To assist in this, we have produced a response form which will guide those wishing to respond.