Long-awaited plans for a Ballasalla bypass are to be submitted shortly, it has been confirmed.

The majority of the multi-million pound link road will be funded by developer Dandara as part of a large housing development.

Plans for a by-pass around the village have long been mooted.

They are included in the Southern Area Plan adopted in 2013.

This concluded that while there was no short term justification for a by-pass on traffic grounds, it would reduce congestion in the village centre, improve journey times and open up an area for further mixed employment use.

The by-pass would begin at a new roundabout at Glashen Hill on Douglas Road close to the 40mph limit.

Its southern end would be another new roundabout at Balthane Corner.

Up to 300 homes could eventualy be built on land to the south east of Homefield Park - but the first phase would involve some 135 houses.

Access to the development would be by a road from the by-pass.

The bypass would cross the steam railway line via a bridge - which would add considerably to the cost.

Dandara said in a statement: ’In depth work for a potential development on the land which has been zoned for housing as part of the Area Plan for the South has been ongoing for many months.

’The proposed scheme will be available for public viewing in Ballasalla commissioners’ office within the next four weeks, with a view to submitting the planning application four to six weeks thereafter.

’Subject to the planning process running smoothly, we anticipate that before the end of 2020, tailbacks in Ballasalla will be a thing of the past.’

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Graham Cregeen said the scheme was to be welcomed.

He said: ’For a period of months last year we’ve been hearing there were plans coming forward for a bypass.

’We’ve been in discussions with the Department of Infrastructure and I undersatand they are a looking at a small scale start to the scheme.’

He said he undertood the plan would initially be for 135 homes.

He said: ’We are all very much awate that there is a need for more housing in Ballasalla and the south. If there is going to be further development, we will need housing.’

Mr Cregeen said it would make a change for the developer, rather than the government, to be fully funding infrastructure works, apart from the entrance at the bottom end of the bypass.

In a statement, the DoI said: ’A by-pass around Ballasalla is accommodated in the Area Plan for the South, and is mentioned several times in that document.

’The department has been in discussions with the developer for some time over the requirements for what will be a major new link in the highway network, and will be responding in full when the planning application is submitted.’