The government has published its final update to its Island Plan for this administration.
The document is revised every year and aims to deliver tangible improvements that residents and businesses can see.
The latest update, the Island Plan 2025-26, will run from March 2025 to September 2026, subject to Tynwald approval at the next sitting.
Island Plan
The Plan sustains focus on six key priorities:
- Public Sector Efficiency and Financial Discipline: Ensuring prudent financial management, with further emphasis on greater efficiency of public services, including the continuation of monthly Departmental spending reviews and publication of Quarterly Management Accounts for transparency and accountability. The Government Efficiency and Reform plan to deliver £50 million of savings over five years outside of healthcare will also be prioritised, which includes the recent implementation of a recruitment control framework and quarterly reports to manage government headcount.
- Security: Strengthening measures to ensure the safety and security of all residents. This expands on actions already taken improve security measures at our air and sea ports to tackle organised crime, including the transfer of ports officers to the Isle of Man Constabulary, the introduction of more police dogs and the creation of a new search facility and the upcoming introduction of ANPR.
- More Homes Occupied: Initiatives to increase housing occupancy and address housing needs, this follows planning approval for 800 new homes since 2021 and the work of the Manx Development Corporation to redevelop the Former Nurses Home, as well as in-principle support for four brownfield sites to be redeveloped through the Island Infrastructure Scheme.
- Energy Security: Promoting sustainable energy solutions and ensuring a reliable energy supply by continuing work to progress significant infrastructure projects which aim to unlock the potential of offshore and onshore energy, and to begin the process of integrating solar energy generation on the government estate where practical.
- Travel Connectivity: Improving transportation links to enhance connectivity to the Island, including the implementation of the Strategic Air Services Policy framework, which was approved by Tynwald last month, to strategically intervene in the market to deliver longer term security and surety across core and regional routes. Alongside working with the Steam Packet Company to improve the service, building on extended special offer fares for residents secured in 2024.
- The Economy: Supporting economic growth and development to create a thriving economy and building on foundations of the Economic Strategy to bring forward initiatives which will boost productivity and capitalise on opportunities, including within Sustainable Finance and Artificial Intelligence through training and collaboration, and empowering our communities through the Local Economy Strategy to enhance the vibrancy of towns and villages for the benefit of residents and visitors.
‘Secure and Vibrate Future’
Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said: “We are absolutely committed to delivering meaningful change for the people of the Isle of Man.
“We continue to work towards the vision set out in the first iteration of the Island Plan of a secure, vibrant, and sustainable future for our Island.
Alfred Cannan Chief Minister.
“The actions and priorities set out in this update show that we are aware and responding to the world around us, and continually refining how we need to reach our goal.”
The Island Plan 2025-26 is available to read on the Tynwald Register of Business and will be discussed at the March sitting of Tynwald.
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