Background Information Planning Statement

Department of Local Government and the Environment

Estates and Housing Directorate

Proposed Sheltered Housing, Reayrt Y Chrink Ph 3, Port St Mary

Background Information in Support of Planning Application

1.0 Introduction

1.1 The Estates and Housing Directorate in the Department of Local Government and the Environment is responsible for:

• Developing housing strategy and policy for the Island;
• Providing affordable housing for first time buyers and prospective public sector tenants;
• Improving the standard of housing for public sector tenants and private home owners;
• Providing and managing public sector housing for the Department's tenants;
• Providing and managing Government Offices and public buildings for Government workers and the general public;
• Purchasing land and properties for affordable housing and provision of other public services;
• Providing advice and capital funding to Local Authorities for the provision, management and maintenance of public sector housing.

1.2 The Housing Strategy and Policy was set out in the Housing Policy Review 1999 and the main objective included in the Isle of Man Government Strategic Plan 2009-2011 for Housing (approved by Tynwald) is:

"To do all that is possible to enable the provision of affordable and appropriate housing".

In the latest Housing Policy Update Report which was laid before Tynwald in July 2008, Appendix A included a programme:

• Completing 514 public sector homes in the three years 2009, 2010 and 2011. A copy of the Appendix is attached with extracts from the Update Report.

1.3 The planning application is in respect of this development (also called Four Roads), which will contribute 34 dwellings towards meeting this objective.

2.0 Housing Need

2.1 The Housing Policy Update Report also includes a section on housing need and waiting lists for general and sheltered housing - see attached extract.

2.2 The Report shows that the General List stands at 1162 applicants and the Sheltered List at 416. The Report also shows that even taking into account the recent increase in housing completions, the waiting list continues to rise albeit slowly. The statistics confirm that further public sector housing development is still needed to meet demand.

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Wballasloe\DOLGE Estates & Housing User Home Share\$ygehrsen\My Documents\Reayrt Y Chrink Ph 3 Planning Statement March 2009.doc

2.3 The Report also confirms that the huge demographic shift in population means that the demand for housing for older people will increase. Additional sheltered housing along will contribute towards meeting this demand. 2.4 In addition new, good quality sheltered housing and non-sheltered bungalows and apartments, aimed at older people will facilitate transfers for existing older tenants from existing family homes. This policy has proved to be successful as older couples and single people are able to downsize to more manageable dwellings and free up a houses for families on the waiting lists. 2.5 Specifically the Marashen Crescent Housing Committee waiting list for sheltered housing is 38 and the general lists in Port Erin (65) and Port St Mary (18) total 83. These two General Housing Authorities plus the Department of Local Government and the Environment, who also operate in the South, confirm that 75 tenants in existing family houses could transfer to suitable accommodation for people of retirement age. 2.6 The proposed new sheltered scheme is also crucial because it is required to enable 18 No. existing sheltered tenants to be decanted or permanently moved from an outdated sheltered complex at Marashen Crescent, Port Erin, which is programmed for demolition/ improvements. 2.7 Clearly the above statistics demonstrate a high level of housing need as well as demand for this project.

3.0 Design Principles

3.1 See separate Report by Savage Chadwick. 3.2 The mix of housing as proposed ( 1 and 2 bed apartments) is in accordance with the DLGE standards. The development will also provide much needed communal facilities including a meeting room, laundry, guest bedroom and additional parking. 3.3 The project will also be one of the first developments to be heated with Biomass supplied as wood chip by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The new boiler house will also be linked to the existing Phase 2 on the adjacent site. 3.4 Consultation has taken place with local residents, Port Erin and Port St Mary Commissioners and local MHKs over the past few months. The current Design Proposals have responded, where possible, to comments raised whilst meeting the Government objective to provide affordable housing in a cost effective manner.

4.0 Conclusion

4.1 The site has been acquired by the Department of Local Government and the Environment to address the national and local need for housing identified in the Housing Policy Report and Isle of Man Government's Plan 2008-2011. 4.2 The site is zoned for residential use and the proposal is consistent with that use. 4.3 The Client, Department and the Design Team have consulted widely and have complied with the requirements imposed by other bodies (including Government Department's and Statutory Authorities).

4.4 This development is an important investment for Isle of Man Government to assist in meeting the urgent housing needs of the Island and its people.

Richard Senior Estates and Housing April 2008