P.K. Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 55 minutes ago, CrazyDave said: It keeps some of them in work and earning, and it keeps some of the businesses that employ them going. But it doesn't house them... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbnuts Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 58 minutes ago, Fred the shred said: I think it is cart before the horse but I know what you mean nothing is thought through or given proper consideration. Amended , of course it is…god knows how I managed that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
code99 Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 Successive IOM Governments spend about £85m annually on capital expenditure projects. Part of the argument in favour of this expenditure is that it creates work for local building companies and individuals who pay tax, etc. This argument is undoubtedly valid. But is the money being spent on the right projects? The Island currently has an acute shortage of affordable housing. Private property developers prefer to build luxury apartments (in a stunning locations/ in the guise of brownfield development), rather than affordable properties, because the profits are greater. Some of these apartments will be purchased by off-Island investors who may or may not let these apartments out at affordable rents (if at all). More luxury properties, whether owned or leased, will not address the affordable housing shortage, which for some residents is a crisis. Left unaddressed, the affordable housing shortage will have detrimental long term economic and demographic consequences. Working-age people with young families who are unable to find an affordable place to live will either leave or will not come here in the first place. Consequently, there will be fewer economically active residents, labour shortages and less taxes for the Government. The only beneficiaries from the current situation are property developers. The Government needs to help less affluent people to afford to live and work here. Shortly, Tynwald will be asked to vote on the IOMG’s proposed Homelessness Strategy. The negative ripple effects from the shortage of affordable housing crisis will not only undermine this ‘good intention’, they will also undermine the entire Island’s socio-economic fundamentals. IMHO, in the longer run, this untenable situation will cost IOM taxpayers a lot more than income generated from building luxury apartments by a few private property developers. 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyDave Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 51 minutes ago, P.K. said: But it doesn't house them... No, but I was answering your point that it does “nothing” to help the people who need it. It does. This scheme isn’t about providing affordable housing, that will fall under the housing authority which they are pushing through and which is tasked with creating 250 new homes a year over five year. This scheme is about turning some eyesores into viable projects and support a construction industry which has had very little to do over the last three or four years, in turn creating jobs and spend through the wider economy which benefits us all. Especially those builders, plumbers, sparks etc who might be out of work if this scheme didn’t exist. The affordable housing thing is being tackled but it doesn’t happen over night. Anyone who was at the government conference in September had the opportunity to sit in and listen to their plans and timescales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 Seems the fantasy has been realised in Duke Street. Reports on Mannin Line today that there is activity on site. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 3 minutes ago, Gladys said: Seems the fantasy has been realised in Duke Street. Reports on Mannin Line today that there is activity on site. Will swing by and report in after lunch. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moghrey Mie Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) 24 minutes ago, code99 said: Successive IOM Governments spend about £85m annually on capital expenditure projects. Part of the argument in favour of this expenditure is that it creates work for local building companies and individuals who pay tax, etc. This argument is undoubtedly valid. But is the money being spent on the right projects? The Island currently has an acute shortage of affordable housing. Private property developers prefer to build luxury apartments (in a stunning locations/ in the guise of brownfield development), rather than affordable properties, because the profits are greater. Some of these apartments will be purchased by off-Island investors who may or may not let these apartments out at affordable rents (if at all). More luxury properties, whether owned or leased, will not address the affordable housing shortage, which for some residents is a crisis. Left unaddressed, the affordable housing shortage will have detrimental long term economic and demographic consequences. Working-age people with young families who are unable to find an affordable place to live will either leave or will not come here in the first place. Consequently, there will be fewer economically active residents, labour shortages and less taxes for the Government. The only beneficiaries from the current situation are property developers. The Government needs to help less affluent people to afford to live and work here. Shortly, Tynwald will be asked to vote on the IOMG’s proposed Homelessness Strategy. The negative ripple effects from the shortage of affordable housing crisis will not only undermine this ‘good intention’, they will also undermine the entire Island’s socio-economic fundamentals. IMHO, in the longer run, this untenable situation will cost IOM taxpayers a lot more than income generated from building luxury apartments by a few private property developers. And even though 25% of new housing projects should be 'affordable' by law developers get round this rule by invoking Section 13 https://www.gov.im/media/1367733/operational-policy-on-section-13-agreements-2020-121219.pdf and bunging a few thousand pounds to the local authority-who are not building affordable homes either. Incidentally it is over 10 years since this meeting. https://www.gov.im/news/2012/nov/30/the-way-forward-for-sustainable-public-housing/ Edited December 4, 2023 by Moghrey Mie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyDave Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Gladys said: Seems the fantasy has been realised in Duke Street. Reports on Mannin Line today that there is activity on site. Edited December 4, 2023 by CrazyDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 @Gladys @CrazyDave Signs of life confirmed. Looks like skips and a tidy-up at the moment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 Just now, The Phantom said: @Gladys @CrazyDave Signs of life confirmed. Looks like skips and a tidy-up at the moment. Thanks Phantom. Let's hope actual construction starts soon too. Perhaps it will be in the New Year as most construction sites close over the holiday period, I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyDave Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 2 hours ago, Gladys said: Seems the fantasy has been realised in Duke Street. Reports on Mannin Line today that there is activity on site. I love it when a fantasy becomes reality 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred the shred Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 I would not get too excited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheldon Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 1 minute ago, CrazyDave said: I love it when a fantasy becomes reality 😂 Maybe this is the year, at long last, that I'm finally getting Jessica Alba for Xmas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 Just going back to the original topic of "The Worst Administration". I'm not sure that it is; one has to remember that we've had 20+ years of this standard which has got us to where we are and it will certainly take more than one term of administration of exceptional standard to drag us out of this mire which was created by those 20 years of ignoramuses and preening tossers who basked in their own perceived glories while their public servants ran amok with the public finances. The problem is, where are those exceptional administrations going to come from? At best with the current choices, we're just going to have more of the same. There is no easy solution to this on the horizon, unfortunately. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyDave Posted December 4, 2023 Share Posted December 4, 2023 3 minutes ago, Fred the shred said: I would not get too excited. I don’t think anyone is excited, but is obvious that the work that has been talked about starting again at the back end of the year is starting. Even if lots on here never want to believe anything they read. Its good news that that site will be finished and no longer a blot on the high street. Hopefully we can get a Wetherspoons in the ground floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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