Officer Report

Application No.: 18/00712/D Applicant: Kerry Vanselow Proposal: Installation of signage over shop entrance and on shop front glazing (retrospective) Site Address: 29 Victoria Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2LG Planning Officer: Mr Owen Gore Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 25.10.2018 _________________________________________________________________

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

Plans/Drawings/Information; This planning permission relates to the following plans and documents: Location Plan Photograph Date-stamped as having been received 09 July 2018 _______________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status – Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report

1.0 SITE - 1.1 The application site is part of a terraced row of buildings in a town centre location; the immediate buildings are ornate Victorian styled, with retail/business premises on the ground floor and flats above.

2.0 PROPOSAL - 2.1 The application is seeking retrospective consent for the installation of signage above the shop entrance and on the front glazing of the shop front.

2.2 The signage over the entrance is plastic, fixed lettering on a black painted timber backing.

3.0 PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 The site is also within the Athol Street and Victoria Street Conservation Area. - 3.2 In the assessment it is most relevant to consider The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 which makes clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar - 3.3 The following policies are particularly relevant to this proposal:-

Local Area Plan - Douglas Local Plan 1998 Site Designation - 'Predominantly Shopping'

Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 General Policy 2 (GP2) - Development within land-use zones

• General Policy 6 (GP6) - the display of external advertisements within our towns and villages
• General Policy 7 (GP7) - external advertisements on sites or buildings other than those to which they relate Environment Policy 35 - preservation or enhancement of the Conservation Area and Environment Policy 37 - advertisements in Conservation Areas which seeks appropriate styles of adverts and traditional finishes and materials and where internally illuminated or box fascia signs are to be avoided.

- 4.0 PLANNING HISTORY

• 18/00673/C - Change of use of ground floor unit from office to hair salon (retrospective) - Decision pending

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS Copies of representations received can be viewed on the government's website. This report contains summaries only. Douglas Borough Council

• o No Objection (dated 17 August 2018) Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division
• o DNO - Do not oppose (dated 10 August 2018) Neighbours' views
• o No comments received.

6.0 ASSESSMENT Character and appearance

6.1 The proposal would not unacceptably harm the characteristics of the existing building or the character of its surroundings. In this respect, the proposal complies with GP2 and EP35. Impact on neighbours - 6.2 The proposed development would not result in a significant adverse impact upon the living conditions of neighbouring residents. In this respect, the proposal complies with GP2. Parking and highway safety

6.3 The signage is permanent, not illuminated and fixed to the building frontage. It does not cause any highway issues and should not distract motorists on the adjacent highway. In this respect, the proposal complies with GP2.

CONCLUSION

7.1 The proposal would not unacceptably harm the characteristics of the existing building, the character of its surroundings or special character of the Athol Street and Victoria Street Conservation Are. The proposed development would not result in a significant adverse impact upon the living conditions of neighbouring residents. The proposal therefore complies with General Policy 2 and Environmental Policy 35. - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS

8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013 Article 6(4), the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
• (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material
• (d) Highway Services Division of Department of Infrastructure and
• (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

8.2 The decision maker must determine:

• o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and
• o whether there are other persons to those listed in Article 6(4) who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 25.10.2018 Determining officer

Signed : S CORLETT Sarah Corlett Principal Planner

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