Authority votes to offer no comment on housing plan

Updated plans for a scheme by the banks of the Sulby River were submitted in July

Ramsey Commissioners have voted to submit a 'no comment' view on plans for a new housing development in the town.

Developers Blythe Church Investments Limited (BCI) submitted a fresh application for approval in principle in July after previous proposals for the Sulby Riverside project were rejected.

Commissioner Juan McGuinness said the new plans were an attempt to get approval ahead of the Draft North and West Area Plan being finalised.

But the board narrowly rejected his call to ask the planning authority for the land's proposed zoning details within that plan and instead backed a suggestion not to make an observation on the application.

BCI's agent, Cornerstone Architects Ltd, have been contacted by the BBC for a response.

The draft area plan outlines land for use for residential and employment projects and, following a public inquiry earlier this year, a report is expected in September.

The previous £40m proposals, which included 205 homes, shops, parks and a pub, were refused by planners in February after concerns about the effects on local wildlife and the flood risk posed by the river.

'Cynical move'

The updated application in principle was for a "residential-led" scheme, with detailed plans to be submitted in future, on 19-acres (7.9 hectares) of land by the banks of the Sulby River owned by BCI.

It also confirmed there were no plans to build on a salt marsh site adjoining the proposed development area.

During a meeting of the local authority's board on Tuesday, Mr McGuinness told members he believed the new plans were "a cynical move to attempt to get planning approval ahead of the area plan being finalised, due to the potential zoning change of the land".

In a statement after the vote, he said he hoped planners were "aware of the area plan changes and don’t become used as a way to circumvent that lengthy process" and would "fully consider the ramifications of the potential developments on the site".