Public inquiry hears about housing issues facing the north and west

Affordability and densities were just a few of the topics brought up

Housing was the agenda as the public inquiry into the Draft North and West Area Plan moves west for the final week of discussion.

Discussions included densities on zoned land in Peel, affordability and site yields.

The suggested housing densities in Peel has been a much-debated topic between the commissioners and the Cabinet Office since the final draft was published.

Previously, the local authority has called the changes between the first draft and the finalised version ‘major’ due to a number of fields added for residential zones.

Some of these are agricultural, and the commissioners also raised concerns about the lack of land marked for employment and tourism for the town.

Clerk of Peel Commissioners Derek Sewell says the Cabinet Office has provided the board with more clarity about the housing density issue during the session:

Concerns were raised by Michael Commissioner Carole Lillywhite that affordable housing wasn’t specified properly in the plan.

She queried where lower prices and could fit into the draft and whether young people leaving and older people wanting to downsize had been factored in.

However, the inquiry chair Brian Sims said in planning terms affordable housing isn’t listed in pounds and pence, instead it’s about the allocation and how they are ‘administered’.

The regeneration of Glen Mona was discussed during the afternoon session.

Marinda Fargher who represents Maughold Ward on Garff Commissioners hopes the land zoned for residential use will also have some affordable homes.

Ms Fargher said Dhoon School had suffered previously due to a lack of children but she says she’s hopeful that some new houses will support Glen Mona: