A NEW presumption in favour of development is to be introduced into the planning system as part of a push to clear away impediments to economic growth.
Any change to the planning system, however, is certain to be controversial.
Explaining the proposal, Mr Bell said: ‘The planning system has not been fit for purpose. It has held us back in the last few years.
‘I don’t want to drive through development for the sake of development. There is no doubt at all the planning system is laborious. There are £20 million to £30 million of private sector construction opportunities at risk because of the planning system. The construction industry is a very important part of the Manx economy and employs a couple of thousand people and many families depend on it.
‘New investment is vitally important and we have to recognise that the planning system is an integral part of economic activity. But we have to ensure it’s fit for purpose. We have to clear away impediments of economic growth through a review of the planning system.’
But Mr Bell said there would be checks in place to ensure unfettered development didn’t lead to new housing estates springing up everywhere.
He said he wanted development with a greater emphasis on the quality of design while still protecting and enhancing the quality of the natural and built environment.
The minister said: ‘We need to be very careful that we don’t allow development to go ahead indiscriminately. That’s not the intention behind this. It needs to pay attention to the equality of design. Some developments have been approved but have been on bad design and not been sympathetic to the Isle of Man.’
Mr Bell insisted that the review of the planning system was not specifically about attracting high net worth individuals to the island.
He has previously highlighted the difficulties that the wealthy potential tax cap beneficiaries have encountered in trying to find suitable houses in the island - and suggested that changes to the planning system were needed to make it easier for these individuals to set up home here.
In his public statement, Mr Bell said he intended to work closely with Economic Development Minister John Shimmin MHK to spearhead growth.
And he said his aim was to ensure the island as a whole becomes an enterprise zone committed to promoting innovation and entrepreneurialism.
He said: ‘I have tasked my Minister for Economic Development to deliver this. We must clear away impediments to economic growth, ensuring that our policies and processes facilitate rather than inhibit the future prosperity of our island.’