Dandara has been given the green light to build 34 homes in Ramsey, subject to a legal agreement.

The house builder has been told to enter into a formal agreement to secure affordable housing before it will receive full approval.

Dandara’s application (18/01255/B) was for 34 houses with an associated road system and drainage works on land adjoining Audlyn Meadow Drive in the northern town.

This includes a mix of one- and two-bed, two-storey semi-detached houses, some of which will have garages, two-storey terraced housing with additional accommodation in the roof space, and a block of four flats for the elderly.

While it has received backing from planners, the planning committee, chaired by Tim Baker MHK, has decided not to issue its decision notice until after Dandara enters into an agreement as required by housing policy 5 of the Isle of Man strategic plan.

This was requested by the Department of Infrastructure during the planning process because 81 people were on the housing waiting list and a further 10 were seeking first-time buyer homes in the north of the island.

The policy requires any new development which has more than eight homes to provide at least 25% affordable housing as part of the development.

policy

Operationally, this policy relates to a section 13 agreement.

Because agreements are voluntary, where proposed to be attached to a planning application, they must be agreed to by the developer as well as the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture.

The policy states: ’The department has no power to issue a planning approval subject to an agreement which the developer refuses to sign.

’Therefore if the developer does not agree the recourse for the department would be to refuse the application.

’It is therefore important that agreements are only used to deal with issues which if not resolved would justify the refusal of the application (for example noncompliance with a development plan policy).’

In its planning statement, submitted at the time of its application, Dandara said it had already received permission for 26 on land adjacent to this site.

The company also confirmed its plans for the 34 homes ’includes affordable housing’.

If Dandara and DEFA fail to come to an agreement within the next six months, the matter will return to the planning committee for consideration.

Ramsey Commissioners have no objections to the plans.