Local politicians in Braddan are opposed to what they see as misguided efforts by government to zone land for development.

The chairman of the commissioners, Andrew Jessop, says the Cabinet Office produced calculations on housing need in the Draft Eastern Area Plan, and Braddan shouldn’t have to suffer as a result.

The local authority has submitted and made public its response to the Cabinet Office planners, after hiring a consultant to prepare the comments.

The document makes a number of objections to the greenfield development and coalescence of settlements outlined in the local plan.

Mr Jessop wants to see government turn its attention exclusively to rejuvenating brownfield sites, and should look to create jobs outside of the capital:

’Everyone’s commuting to Douglas because there’s not enough employment elsewhere. The Eastern Area Plan does not address that, it’s not a sustainable plan, and it’s all about centralisation.’

Last month we reported on a campaigne to save Braddan greenbelt.

The biggest proposed housing site in the draft Area Plan for the East is 30 hectares of grazing land off Braddan Road to the north east of the Jubilee Oak junction.

Here between 200 and 300 homes could be built under plans drawn up by Hartford Homes.

But residents on neighbouring Ballafletcher Road, Quarterbridge Road and the Tromode Woods estate have joined forces to fight the plans.

They argue the site simply isn’t suitable in terms of infrastructure and the impact on already-congested roads and access to schools and the hospital.

The campaigners say there is no need for the development as there are plenty of vacant brownfield sites in Douglas.