29 July 2011 · Director of Planning and Building Control (delegated under Article 3(13) of the Town and Country (Development Procedure) Order 2005)
Mahal, 49, Sea Cliff Road, Onchan, Isle Of Man, IM3 2jd
The site is the residential curtilage of a detached dwelling on Sea Cliff Road in Onchan, a predominantly open plan residential area. The proposal involved constructing 1050mm high garden walling along boundaries and installing electrically operated metal gates at the existing vehicular accesses, with brickwork and wro…
Click a button above to find applications similar to this one.
See how this application compares to similar ones — policies, conditions, and outcomes side by side.
The officer assessed the proposal against the predominantly open plan frontages along Sea Cliff Road, where properties have no significant walling or fencing, only modest boundary treatment.
Policy O/RES/P/21 of the Onchan Local Plan (Planning Circular 1/2000)
Policy states: 'Extensions and alterations to existing residential property will generally not be opposed where such proposals are appropriate in terms of scale, massing, design, appearance and impact on adjacent property.' The officer assessed the walling as inappropriate in design and appearance due to introducing enclosure in an open plan streetscene, failing the test of appropriateness.
General Policy 2
Policy requires development to respect site and surroundings in siting, layout, scale, form, design; not adversely affect townscape character or amenity of locality. The proposal failed as the walling was intrusive and incongruous in the open plan area, adversely affecting streetscene character.
recommend that the application be APPROVED for planning purposes only
Do not oppose has no adverse traffic management, parking or road safety implications
No objection: The Revised application drawing number AT 1016.1A Proposed Site Plan has addressed the Authorities concerns
Highways Division, Onchan District Commissioners, and Water Authority raised no objections to the application, while two nearby residents objected due to visual impact and incompatibility with the open-plan character of the area.
Key concern: proposal out of character with open-plan area and setting undesirable precedent
Highways Division
No ObjectionDo not oppose has no adverse traffic management, parking or road safety implications
Onchan District Commissioners
SupportThe Commissioners recommend that the application be APPROVED for planning purposes only.
Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority
No ObjectionNo Objection:; The Revised application drawing number AT 1016.1A Proposed Site Plan has addressed the Authorities concerns and therefore the Authority has no objections to this application.
Mr N Owen
ObjectionI object to the application for the following reasons:; It is completely out of character with the rest of the area which has been skillfully developed and landscaped to provide an attractive open environment.; None of the other houses and bungalows in Sea Cliff Road have boundary walls or gates.
RB + H Clague
ObjectionDetached Houses 45-49, Sea Cliff Rd are all open plan at the front, Lawns etc. Sloping to the road. No walls or gates; The above wall and gates would look out of place with the rest of the properties on the road.
Conditions requested: If a wall is to be built, it should not be higher than 2 ft or 60 cm
The original application sought permission for a summerhouse, fencing, and shed; the Planning Committee approved the shed and fencing but refused the summerhouse due to its visual impact from Sea Cliff Road, prominence in front of the building line, and potential precedent for clutter in rear gardens. The appellant argued the summerhouse is not prominent, has sentimental value, matches local architecture, and privacy issues are mitigated by new planting. The inspector found the summerhouse conspicuous but not unattractive, compatible with local character, no unacceptable precedent, and privacy concerns addressable by condition. The appeal was allowed subject to conditions for reserved matters and boundary vegetation.
Precedent Value
Shows inspectors may allow outbuildings in rear gardens if visually acceptable and compatible, even if conspicuous from road, with conditions for screening; applicants should provide detailed visibility analysis and mitigation plans.
Inspector: G Farrington
