The government has received planning approval to build 21 new homes near the former RAF airfield in Jurby.

They would be situated on the north side of Ballamenagh Road, what was the army campsite.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Crookall said that there were currently no plans for residential development of the airfield itself.

That question was asked by Rushen MHK Juan Watterson in the last sitting of Tynwald.

Mr Crookall explained that as part of the Jurby Initiative, approval had been obtained: ‘The department is currently exploring ways of creating new affordable homes on that site, possibly using a community-led housing development model’.

Mr Watterson asked if the 2006 Jurby Master Plan still remained an active policy, and the minister said: ‘I would imagine it’s moved on since then’ and that he would find out if it had been superseded.’

The former army camp site is now known as the Bretney Infill Housing Development.

The application includes 18 new one, one-and-a-half, and two-storey rural style homes, as well as two-bedroom public sector bungalows.

There would also be land allocated for community use (such as allotments), and a community hub, to be built on the land which formerly accommodated the sergeants’ mess facilities.

It forms part of the three-year Jurby village development initiative originally launched in 2019 to ‘inject fresh life’ into Jurby.

There will also be access via a new road junction to the Bretney Road, new walking and cycling routes, and parking for 23 vehicles on the site’s former military parade ground.