New Housing Minister Rob Callister is warning there are overnight solutions to the problems facing the Isle of Man.
Callister’s appointment as Housing and Communities Minister was confirmed by Chief Minister Chris Thomas yesterday.
Thomas said yesterday (October 30): “In the coming days, we will meet to agree clear objectives and priorities for the work ahead.”
The new minister has taken to social media today (October 31.)
He warns: “There are no quick fixes. Some of the challenges we face have developed over many years and will not be resolved overnight.
“But that cannot be allowed to become an excuse for standing still.”
He states: “Whether you are trying to buy your first home, looking for somewhere secure and affordable to rent, waiting for social housing, or needing a home that better suits you later in life, housing affects us all.”
It is fundamental to the island’s future, he says.
“If we want to grow our economy, retain our young people, attract skilled workers and support our public services, we need the right homes, in the right places, at prices people can realistically afford.”
These include “progressing Tynwald’s commitment to build, provide or facilitate up to 1,000 affordable homes over the ten years from April 2025”.
He wants to remove “unnecessary barriers” and improve processes and says he plans to work with local authorities, developers, landlords, housing providers, the construction industry, Members of Tynwald and the communities affected.
“Housing is also about much more than bricks and mortar,” he says. “Good homes need strong communities, appropriate infrastructure and access to the services people need.”
That includes a greater emphasis on using brownfield sites, he says.
