Officer Report

Application No.: 16/00641/B Applicant: Department Of Infrastructure Estate Shared Services Proposal: Erection of a mobile classroom Site Address: Ramsey Grammar School (West) Lezayre Road Ramsey Isle Of Man IM8 2RG Case Officer : Miss Abigail Morgan Site Visit: 28.07.2016 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report

1.0 SITE - 1.1 The site represents the curtilage of Ramsey Grammar School, Lezayre Road, Ramsey. The school is made up of two large detached buildings which are split by Crossags Lane. The application site forms the western part. All are located on the western side of the Lezayre Road.

2.0 PLANNING POLICIES - 2.1 The site has been designated under the Ramsey Local Plan Order 1998 as being within schools and other establishments in large grounds (secondary school); the site is not within a Conservation Area. - 2.2 The following policies are therefore considered relevant in the consideration of this application: - 2.3 General Policy 2 states: "Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development:

• (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them;
• (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality;

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 There are a number of previous planning applications for extensions and alterations to the school all of which have been approved (22 in total). There are three historical applications for the siting of mobile classrooms;

04/01445/B - which does not appear to have been implemented and was proposed to be to the north of the proposal.

02/00527/B - current classroom on site 85/00541/B - approved subject to a 5 year condition and was located in the north eastern corner of the site.

4.0 PROPOSAL - 4.1 The application seeks approval for addition of a mobile classroom, with access ramp and stair access, adjacent to the existing one on site. The classroom is apx 7.45m x 9.1m x 3.2m (at is highest). The ramp and landing is 8.7m x 1.7m x 1.6m and the stairs is 1m x 2.3m x 1.6m both with timber handrail with 100mm centre balustrading or mesh to prevent climbing. Materials are similar to the other one adjacent.

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Highway Services - Do not oppose, 22-06-2016. - 5.2 Ramsey Commissioners - no objection. 26.07.16.

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 Due to the location of the proposed classroom at the rear of the site the main considerations are the effect of the proposal on the main building and the space around it, and the amenity of the neighbouring properties. Visiting the area and viewing the proposed plans the classroom would not really be visible from Lezayre Road however it would be visible from the properties which back onto the school grounds and partially visible from the golf course, due to the presence of a number of mature trees along the boundary. - 6.2 The classroom is needed for post 16 year group - the current area has room for 80 students and there are currently 120. The classroom is currently located at Bradden Primary School and it is proposed to relocate it to Ramsey Grammar West. DEC are hoping to have a further building project to expand the post 16 year area in the future, it has been identified as a need but is dependent on budgets. - 6.3 The 2004 application was considered to have little impact on the area, the current proposal is in a similar location and again is considered to have relatively minor impact on the area, the amenity of the surrounding area and the appearance of the site is not considered to be significantly changed to that which currently exists. - 6.4 As a result, it is concluded that the planning application does not conflict with General Policy 2 (b), (c) or (g) of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION - 7.1 On the basis of the above it is recommended that the planning application be approved.

8.0 PARTY STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013 as modified by the Transfer of Planning and Building Control Functions Order 2015, 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) The Highways Services of the Department of Infrastructure; and
• (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word

'Department' to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order. Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 17.08.2016 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 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

• C 2. If the unit is no longer used or required for the purposes for which it is proposed (the accommodation of teaching facilities) it must be removed from site. Reason: to avoid the proliferation of mobile structures on the site. This approval relates to drawing numbers 01 and 02 both date stamped received 6 June 2016.

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

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 17.08.2016 Determining officer

Signed : S CORLETT Sarah Corlett Senior Planning Officer

Customer note

This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.