Tackling dereliction is welcome
The proposal announced this week that the Development & Planning Authority intends to ‘build’ on promises made in this year’s Budget debate and tackle derelict premises with demands for action, with the threat of fines in default, is one of those which will be universally welcomed.
It’s the kind of proposal that islanders have been calling for, for years. None of us likes to see ugly shells of dilapidated buildings, unsightly and looking worse year-on-year, and with seemingly no hope of anything ever being done about it. They are a blight on an area, and a disincentive towards making an upgrade or development nearby.
Policy & Resources has talked about increasing the TRP five-fold in respect of dereliction, and now the DPA intends to ‘tackle eyesores’ in town and country, derelict homes or unsightly, redundant visitor accommodation.
It says these powers ‘would play an important part in securing revitalisation and acting as a deterrent to prevent the future creation of eyesores through dereliction and neglect’.
Bigger ideas for regeneration of areas don’t appear to be having any traction, so this is a targeted effort which is almost certain to prove more effective.
And now the DPA has announced that it is looking at a review of the Island Development Plan and a need to identify more centres for housing development, this tool in the box might become even more important.