The greenlight has been given to build 30 new flats on land in Ramsey which has lain empty for 15 years.

Members of the planning committee gave the Ramsey Town Commissioners application the go ahead during a meeting on Monday.

The commissioners submitted the planning application earlier this year to build two apartment blocks on the land between Albert Road and Albert Terrace which consists of the former primary school site and Close Woirrey.

The application, submitted by architects McGarrigle Ayre Architects on behalf of the commissioners, will see a total of 30 apartments built on the site.

The commissioners bought the site which was home to Albert Road Junior School for more than £400,000 in 2022.

In the design statement, the applicant said: ‘The redevelopment of the Close Woirrey and Albert Road site comprises the construction of two separate apartment blocks with associated parking for cars, bicycles and electric vehicles.

‘The proposed development consists of 30 two-bedroom apartments with communal drying rooms, stairs and lift to all floors.

‘The apartments are split into two blocks with block one containing 12 apartments and block two containing 18 apartments.’

In the statement, the applicant argued the proposals for the two apartment blocks is in the line with the draft area plan and will provide much-needed housing for Ramsey.

The applicant says: ‘The current proposal to redevelop the existing Albert Road and Close Woirrey sites will provide necessary residential accommodation to reduce Ramsey Town Commissioners housing waiting list.’

Pauline Johns-Garrett, lead member for housing for Ramsey Town Commissioners, has welcomed the decision.

She said: ‘This has been a plan which has been underway for several years, and it is such good news to have secured planning permission.

‘I would like to thank the Housing Team who have worked so hard to get us to this point, and will now start the next phase and get these much-needed social housing units built.’