Proposals in the area plan for the east could destroy the distinct character of two villages, the public inquiry has been told.

Under the draft plan, 200 homes would be built on Camlork Farm with a site at the Strang as a strategic reserve for later development.

During the inquiry, Jim Tarzy, a planning director representing Braddan Commissioners, argued that the proposed sites would lead to the loss of the distinct character of two villages which would be contradictory to the strategic plan.

The strategic objectives of the strategic plan include: ’To protect the individual character and identity of settlements, and to identify and protect those green spaces in built areas which contribute positively to public amenity.

’To prevent the extension of settlements beyond boundaries that will be defined in the area plans and to prevent the merging of settlements.’

Part of Braddan Commissioners’ case in opposing the scale of the proposed development is that it would lead to the loss of the character of Union Mills and Strang and lead to ’coalescence’ of the two.

Mr Tarzy argued that the Camlork proposal, which would include a new main road through the area from Union Mills and emerging at Strang, is an attempt to ’tries to join the settlements so they become one’.

He accepted that there would have to be some greenfield space released for building to meet the needs of population growth, but added that is an ’issue of scale’ that leads to the commissioners’ objections.

He said the proposed 200 houses at Camlork with a potential for 100 more at Strang ’represents a scale of development that goes well beyond local need’.

Cabinet Office representative John Barrett QC said that ’extensions to a village is in the strategic plan’..

Mr Tarzy agreed but again argued that ’scale is the issue’ with the proposed extensions to Union Mills and Strang.

He added: ’We can’t control the past, but we can control the future and we need to keep Union Mills and Strang apart.’ He also warned that the area plan needs to make the right decision as it will ’dictate to planning applications for a long time’.

Mr Barrett asked Mr Tarzy if the two areas can be distinguished by character, to which the latter said they can.

When Mr Barrett asked if maintaining the character of the two villages can be achieved ’post development’ that would be correct as per the strategic plan, Mr Tarzy said ’maybe, but Braddan Commissioners are not willing to take that risk’.