A $60 million residential development in Ballina has been approved to go ahead after six years of negotiations.

Ferngrove, at North Ballina, has been one of the town's most controversial developments, with residents concerned about flooding, and other issues regarding the 'sensitive piece of ground'.

Developer Ken Jones, from the Gold Coast-based Rose Jones Group, said they now had approvals from all the relevant departments and agencies.

“It has taken a long time to get to this point, but we have now sold and exchanged contracts on 30 lots.”

The development includes 238 blocks of land, ranging in size from 400sqm to 800sqm which will be released in five stages.

Development of the master plan was assisted by Byron Bay-based architect Logan Architecture, however, the final designs for properties in the development will be made by the owners said Jones.