Plans have been approved to build 30 flats on a brownfield site in Braddan.

A total of 24 two-bedroom and six one-bedroom flats are to be built on land at Snugborough House next to Peel Road.

The applicant, Braddan Commissioners, plans to use the flats for local authority rented accommodation.

Concerns were expressed about the number of trees to be removed, which could support various species of bats and birds, and conditions for approving the plans include completing bird and bat surveys to assess the impact of the building.

The surveys have to be approved in writing before any work can start and current plans for the flats now include bat boxes on each building.

The plans, for three three-storey and one four-storey block, will involve demolishing 28 lock-up garages but 65 new car parking spaces are to be created - 45 for tenants in the flats and 20 for use of the residents in Cronk Gennal and Snugborough Avenue.

The planning officer noted this equated to 1.5 spaces per flat, slightly below the recommended level of two spaces for a two-bedroom flat and a single space for a one-bedroom dwelling, according to the parking standards recommendations in the 2016 Isle of Man strategic plan.

This was only acceptable, planners said, if a lower level of likely car ownership could be demonstrated for the development.

The development must also include the recommended 30 bicycle parking spaces; the proposed 26 was too few.

Work can only start once detailed plans have been submitted outlining traffic management for the development, including details of one-way systems and parking restrictions.

Details of exact building materials as well as planting and landscaping on the site must be provided before work starts.