Construction Isle of Man is urging Tynwald members who voted against the Area Plan for the North and West to change their minds.
Tynwald voted to reject the plan in October thanks to strong opposition from MHKs and near total rejection by MLCs.
While it was narrowly passed by MHKs 13-11, it was overwhelmingly voted down by MLCs 1-6.
The plan zones land in the north and west of the island and sets out how much development can be expected in those areas.
Expectation
In a letter sent to members, seen by Manx.News, CIOM said there had been an “expectation” that the plan would pass and it was “disappointing to note the recent outcome”.
The industry body stated that without an adopted plan, the areas remain uncertain in their strategic development, impacting communities, businesses, and the wider construction industry.
Addressing concerns about infrastructure, CIOM wrote that such worries are “a little premature at this stage”.
It argued that it typically takes years for zoned land to be developed, enabling “the strategic planning and delivery of required infrastructure improvements during that period of time”.
Brownfield
The letter also attempts to challenge the view that brownfield sites are ignored by developers if greenfield alternatives exist, calling this a “misconception”.
CIOM stated that brownfield sites “will only ever provide a small proportion of the total housing and commercial space required to sustain a vibrant and resilient Island economy”.
The group concluded that approving the plan “will provide much-needed certainty and long-term planning confidence” and “respectfully urge[d] Members of Tynwald to approve the Area Plan for the North and West at the next sitting”.