DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 20/00767/B Applicant: Laxey And Lonan Heritage Trust Proposal: Alterations to existing window and installation of new door Site Address: Laxey Information Centre Mines Road Laxey Isle Of Man IM4 7NH Principal Planner: Mr Chris Balmer Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 24.08.2020 _________________________________________________________________

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. 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.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The proposal would enhance the Conservation Area and the individual property and therefore the proposal would comply with Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan.

Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to the submitted documents and drawings reference numbers 1a and 2 all received on 15th July 2020. _______________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The application site comprises the curtilage of Laxey Information Centre, which is located on Mines Road in Laxey.

- 2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 The application seeks approval for the alterations to existing window and installation of new door. Currently the main entrance directly accesses onto the Mines Road, which the applicants have advises isn't safe or ideal. The new timber door to located to the gable elevation where there is already three windows. The new door would be located in the middle of these existing three windows.

3.0 PLANNING STATUS AND POLICY - 3.1 The site lies within an area designated on the Laxey and Lonan Local Plan of 2005 as Predominantly Residential. The application site also lies within a Conservation Area. - 3.2 The Strategic Plan contains a policy which seeks the preservation or enhancement of property within a Conservation Area (EP 35). This states:

"Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development."

4.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 4.1 There are no previous planning applications which are considered relevant in the determination of this application.

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Highway Services do not object (04.08.2020).

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The main issue to be considered in the assessment of this application is the impact of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and the individual property. - 6.2 The Department has a duty to determine whether such proposals are in keeping with not only the individual building, but the special character and quality of the area as a whole. With this in mind it is very relevant to consider Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan (adopted June 2016). This policy indicates that development within Conservation Areas will only be permitted if they would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development. - 6.3 It is considered the reasoning for the new doors and its design are both acceptable and reasonable and it is considered the appearance of the door would preserve the Conservation Area and therefore Comply with EP35.

7.0 CONCLUSION - 7.1 It is considered the proposal would enhance the Conservation Area and the individual property and therefore the proposal would comply with Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan and therefore recommended for an approval.

8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf);
• (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure;
• (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;

• (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (f) the local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated; and
• (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material.

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 above who should be given Interested Person Status

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Director of Planning and Building Control in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 24.08.2020 Determining officer Signed : J CHANCE Jennifer Chance Director of Planning and Building Control

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