Highways Response

Date of Response: 23/02/18 Date of Application: 12/01/18 Application Reference: 18/00002/B Location: Mona Cottage (rear of Mona House), 33 Malew Street, Castletown, IM9 1AE Description: Property extension Highway Comments: Following the previous highway response dated 19th January 2018, clarification

on the proposals has been provided in light of the highway comments made. It is noted that the 5 no. site parking spaces shown on the site plan are only available for the adjacent Mona House and not Mona Cottage which is the subject of this application.

In accordance with the Department of Infrastructure’s ‘Manual for Manx Roads’ document, the proposed replacement garage can be counted as a car parking space provided that the garage door width is increased to 2.4m to comply with minimum standards. The size of the existing integral garage is slightly below the minimum standard for a space and therefore the proposed garage would be better than the current garage. However, the new garage would be sited where cars can currently park.

The proposal would change the dwelling from a 1 bedroom to a 3 bedroom dwelling. The parking standards in ‘The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016’ require 2 parking spaces for a 3 bedroom dwelling. Only one space would be provided on the site in the new garage. ‘The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016’ states that “in general, the need to find a use for redundant buildings which are in sound condition will outweigh the drawback of any shortfall in parking provision.” On this basis, the shortfall of a parking space on the site is considered acceptable provided that the garage remains available for a car to park at all times which needs to be secured via a planning condition.

Highway Services do not oppose the application subject to the proposed garage door being widened to 2.4m and a planning condition for the garage to be unobstructed and available for parking at all times prior to the development being brought into use.

Recommendation: DNOC