12 March 2026 · Planning Committee
Part Of Playing Fields, Nobles Park, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 6da
The proposal involves extending the permitted use of a temporary marquee in Nobles Park, Douglas, beyond the TT and Festival of Motorcycling periods to accommodate the Food and Drink Festival, typically in September, with an additional retention period of up to about 23 days including takedown.
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The officer assessed the proposal as a temporary extension of an existing lawful marquee use in a park designated as Open Space, noting it would not fall within that use but a reasonable exception cou…
General Policy 2
Requires consideration of impacts on amenities, character, highways, etc. The officer found no significant adverse impacts on public/private amenities, visual character, or access/parking, making the temporary extension acceptable.
Environment Policy 22
Tests for unacceptable harm from emissions/pollution to amenities/environment. Assessed as compliant due to distance to residences (>107m), limited hours/uses, and temporary nature preventing significant harm.
Recreation Policy 2
Protects open space/parks from erosion. Site is designated Open Space - Park; temporary loss of non-formal pitch section for ~23 days deemed acceptable exception given event context, economic benefits, and restoration conditions, despite referral to Committee as potentially contrary.
Transport Policy 7
Requires adequate parking/access. Existing park/Grandstand parking, proximity to bus routes, and Highways no objection confirmed acceptability.
Time limit
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice. Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
Marquee siting and removal
In any given calendar year, the marquee shall not be in situ more than 14 days before the first day of practice week for the TT, and shall be removed by the earlier of either: 14 days after the last day of the Food Festival; or the 14th October. Reason: The application has only been considered on the basis of a temporary use, for the time period proposed and to ensure the area of open space is restored to its original use. Whilst the dates of the TT, Festival of Motorcycling and Food Festival may vary in any given year the application has been assessed on the basis of the Food Festival taking place during September and re-removal following the festival taking up to 14 days.
Removal if no Food Festival
In any given calendar year, should the marquee for the Food Festival not occur/not be required it shall be removed 14 days after the last day of the Festival of Motorcycling. The site shall be restored to its former condition within 14 days of the marquee being removed. Reason: The application has only been considered on the basis of a temporary use, for the time period proposed and to ensure the area of open space is restored to its original use.
Operating hours
No customers, visitors, guests or patrons shall occupy the marquee in connection with the Food Festival outside the following hours: Monday to Saturdays - 1000hrs to 2100hrs Sundays - 1100hrs to 1800hrs. Reason: These are the times proposed and the proposal has been considered on these times only.
As the planning application is just for the extension of operation of the hospitality building, this would not be opposed by HDC as the existing layout of the building is acceptable.
No Objection
No Objection/no comments received
