Amendments to pave way for new measures
Today (30 Oct) is the last day for the public to comment on government plans to change the Island's planning system.
A consultation on amending the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 will close today.
It's to pave the way for a raft of changes put forward by the Cabinet Office, designed to improve the planning system, an objective of the Programme for Government.
These include the introduction of 'national policy directives', a community infrastructure levy, Cabinet Office powers to appoint a planning advisory body, and a faster method of making minor amendments to existing approvals.
The moves are hoped to make the planning system 'more responsive' and less bureaucratic, while giving the Council of Ministers more say on applications of 'general importance to the Island'.
The Manx Wildlife Trust is urging the public to comment after raising 'serious concerns' about a potential loss of transparency in the planning process.
The charity has welcomed some of the proposed changes, but says decisions shouldn't escape public scrutiny.
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