Brownfield development can't meet all housing need

Policy and Reform Minister sheds light on data

The Island’s need for new homes can't just be met by developing brownfield sites according to the Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas.

It’s estimated by the Cabinet Office that development of these unused areas could provide roughly 658 homes.

The figure is based around the current draft of the Eastern Area Plan, and a series of assumptions about the height and density of future buildings.

Mr Thomas admits this is only an estimate, and that some greenfield land must be zoned to meet the demands of government’s population growth policy.

The information has been made publicly available as part of the evidence documents for the draft Eastern Area Plan, which zones land in Douglas, Onchan and Braddan.

The document is currently undergoing public consultation.

The statistics have also been collated and provided to a parliamentary committee investigating redevelopment of brownfield sites, which is chaired by Middle MHK Bill Shimmins and will report to Tynwald later this month.  .

The information can be found here: https://www.gov.im/media/1361897/supplementary-evidence-paper-8-statistics-on-brownfield-development-published-25th-june-2018.pdf

The data, taken from existing sources, has also revealed that in the last decade, two thirds of all planning approvals for housing were made up of brownfield development and conversions.

Each approval is for one unit, and not multiple homes or estates.

Of the 2,528 new homes built since 2007, 1,100 were brownfield sites (44%), 552 were conversions (22%) and 876 were on greenfield areas.

The Policy and Reform Minister says the information may surprise those who assume most new development takes place in the countryside.