Ballasalla faces being transformed with news that a huge bypass and housing development has been given the go-ahead.

Dandara’s plan for 282 houses and a bypass between Douglas Road and the rear of Railway Terrace (19/00137/B) has been approved by the planning committee.

The houses will be a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom properties with single and two-storey homes.

This development will fund the link road, which has long been mooted, to help reduce traffic congestion in the village.

This road would begin with a roundabout at Glashen Hill on Douglas Road, through to Balthane Corner near the entrance to Balthane industrial estate. The bypass will cross the Steam Railway on a new bridge.

It will be the responsibility of government to obtain the land at Balthane Corner which will be necessary to complete the bypass route.

This approval is for the first two phases of the development of 135 and 147 homes respectively. A further phase three will look at creating a new roundabout and facilities such as shops.

Planning consent was granted on the condition that work on the new bypass will begin no later than the completion of the 75th house being completed - and no houses in phase two of the development are built until the new road is finished

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Graham Cregeen welcomed the move.

He said: ’This will hopefully ease congestion going through Ballasalla.

’It will create employment opportunities in the south as a whole in building the development itself and opening up the Freeport. New housing gives people the opportunity to live nearby.’

In the past he has expressed concerns about whether the bypass would be effective in reducing traffic flow, adding that further discussions with the Department of Infrastructure were needed.

Dandara has said previously work would create up to 190 jobs for constructing the housing development and bypass.

Commissioners’ clerk Barry Powell said: ’We are looking forward to commencement. It’s going to be huge for Ballasalla.

’Hopefully there will not be too much disruption.’

Building is expected to begin in September or October.

Meawhile, developer Hartford Homes has appealed against the refusal of its plan to build on land at Knock Rushen in Castletown.

The plan (18/00987/B) is for 48 houses, adding to the 45 properties by the developer already at Scarlett Point.

Knock Rushen was identified as a site suitable for housing development in town following a call by government, prompted by the local authority.

But the planning committee said the site ’is not designated for development on the Area Plan for the South, which specifically states â?¦ that development should not extend further south than the existing Knock Rushen estate.’

Scores of objections were raised by residents.

Attempts to build in the area in the past have been controversial.

Campaigners fought - under the group Save Our Scarlett - development at Scarlett Point for 13 years but were defeated when Hartford first got permission to build at Knock Rushen in 2006.

The appeal will be heard on September 6.