No Island Infrastructure Scheme projects are progressing in the north because no eligible applications have been submitted.
That is according to Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston, however he insisted government is engaging with Ramsey and northern stakeholders “where we can”.
Answering a question from Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper, Johnston said the IIS is demand‑led, and the department can only support projects where landowners or developers bring forward viable proposals that meet the scheme’s criteria.
“To date, no IIS scheme projects are progressing in the north… because the department has not had a proposal that has met the scheme’s eligibility criteria,” he said.
Deterring Northern Applicants
Hooper questioned whether the scheme design itself was deterring northern applicants, noting that government’s own brownfield regeneration update relies heavily on IIS as its main success story.
Johnston said four northern applications were submitted in the first round but “fell away”, including one that failed viability tests. No applications came forward in the second round.
He said the department continues to work with Ramsey Town Commissioners, the Northern Chamber of Commerce, and the Ramsey & Northern Regeneration Steering Group, adding: “We do engage where we can.”
He also confirmed the Manx Development Corporation had explored sites in Ramsey in 2024, but progress stalled after commissioners showed reluctance to dispose of land for redevelopment.
The full exchange can be listened to below:
