Onchan residents who opposed the building of more than 100 homes in the village have won a major battle.

The chairman of the inquiry into the area plan for the east, Michael Hurley, has recommended that the site OH011, known as Ballachrink, be retained as a strategic reserve site rather than a specific site, meaning he does not believe the site should be built on in the short term.

The Cabinet Office had estimated that up to 140 homes could be built on the land, owned by Dandara Group Holdings, which is at the top of Birch Hill Park, north of Birch Hill Crescent and Maple Avenue.

The draft area plan had earmarked the site for allocation for residential development with access provided via the demolition of at least one home on Birch Hill Crescent.

Objectors to the plan included Onchan Commissioners, MHKs Rob Callister and Julie Edge and a number of residents.

Most of their objections centred on urban sprawl and loss of countryside, visual impact, adverse effect on wildlife, pressure on local schools, traffic congestion and inadequate infrastructure.

Mr Hurley concluded that the site while being a ’back land’ area behind Birch Hill Crescent, ’would be visible from the Mountain Road to the south of the Creg-ny-baa, and have an adverse effect on this rural view’.

However he added that he did not believe that any technical evidence presented have ruled out future development of the site.

Mr Hurley did note that the Department of Education, Sport and Culture has admitted that there is capacity problems at both primary schools in the village and that plans to extend Onchan Primary School and replace Ashley Hill Primary School ’seem to be at an early stage, and firm proposals backed by the requisite funding are not yet in place’.

He added that this ’should tell against the early development of the allocated land’.

The chairman said that while the site is on the edge of the active travel area and Birch Hill is served by a bus service ’it seems to me that many of the occupants of the additional housing built here would be heavily reliant on the private car’.

He added: ’There is evidence of peak hour traffic congestion in this area, particularly along Hillberry Road. The development of the allocated land would be likely to exacerbate this.

’That would add weight to the case against immediate development here, before the effectiveness of mitigation measures, such as the installation of an improved system of traffic signals and the adoption of active travel strategy, have been fully assessed.’

Mr Hurley concluded that he does not consider an extension of Onchan’s urban area as ’immediately necessary’ but that it could contribute in the future if needed and providing adequate primary school places could be supplied and that traffic and other infrastructure issues could be resolved.

Rob Callister MHK told the Examiner: ’Upon reflection, I feel that the final report into the Area Plan for the East is fair and balanced.

’However, I still have serious concerns that some potential development in the future could detract from the overall character of the island’s landscape, especially on the outskirts of Onchan which has previously been described as "high landscape value and scenic significance" - a point that should never be overlooked.

’I am also supportive of the inspector’s view that given the population projections and future housing requirements etc for the island there is no need for two large developments in Onchan, and that no further extension of Onchan’s urban area would be immediately necessary, which will be welcome news for many Onchan constituents.’