A South Douglas MHK will ask the Minister for Health and Social Security whether an elderly mentally infirm unit will be built on land at Farmhill in Douglas.

In December, Heritage Homes won an appeal to build 21 homes and the health facility there, despite opposition from more than 200 residents in the area.

Mr Malarkey (pictured), who is a member of the lobby group, wants to know whether there's money in the department's budget to pay for it to be built and maintained and whether the land will be purchased or leased.

The proposals had been refused on environmental grounds by the government’s planning committee, but former Local Government Minister John Rimington reversed the decision following an independent inspector’s recommendation.

The site is home to a number of protected habitats and Heritage Homes has been told it must ensure the ecological value of the site is managed.