Officer Report

Application No.: 16/00502/D Applicant: First Names Management Limited Proposal: Installation of both illuminated and non-illuminated signage Site Address: Clerical Medical House Victoria Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 4DF Case Officer : Mr Jason Singleton Photo Taken: 09.05.2016 Site Visit: 09.05.2016 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report APPLICATION SITE

1.1 The application site is the curtilage of Clerical Medical House, Victoria Road, Douglas which accommodates a two storey detached office block which is currently being renovated and the surrounding land which provides car parking that serves the offices. THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the erection of five signs, two illuminated and three not illuminated. These are;

• (i) An aluminium sign located above the main entrance 6.0m wide x 1.0m high and 0.1m deep, this sign would sit above the full width of the entrance doors and coloured in the corporate colours of a black background with white lettering with the company name. This sign would be internally lit with LED lights.
• (ii) An aluminium black monolith entrance sign located to the right hand side of the entrance set at ground level within the planting bed. This sign would measure 1.9m wide x 1.0m high x 0.3m deep, internally lit with LED lighting. This sign would feature the company name and logo in the corporate colours.
• (iii) An acrylic black map of the Isle of Man, with the company name inserted across the width of the map. This will be located on the north wing of the building set against a portion of Manx stone wall. This sign is not illuminated.
• (iv) A black acrylic individual lettering, measuring 3.0m wide with each letter spelling out the company name with each letter being 175mm with a 40mm spacing. This sign is not illuminated and is located on the south wing of the building against the white painted rendered walls.
• (v) An aluminium sign located to the rear / north elevation of the building 4.5m wide x 1.0m high and 50mm deep, this sign would sit within a recess between the seconf and third floor of the building, coloured in the corporate colours of a black background with white lettering with the company name. This sign is not illuminated.

PLANNING HISTORY

3.1 The car park was recently extended under PA 15/00866/B which was approved in September 2015.

3.2 The doors on the north east corner of the building were made wider to give better access to the plant room. 16/00089/B which was approved in March 2016. DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICIES - 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site is within an area designated as a "Business Park" area identified on the Douglas Local Plan 1998. The site is not within a Conservation Area.

4.2 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. General Policies of The Isle of Man Strategic Plan (20th June 2007) states:

4.3 General Policy 6 states: "Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they:

• (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed;
• (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and
• (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard."

4.4 General Policy 7 states: "Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements on sites or buildings other than those to which they relate will not generally be permitted."

REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 Douglas Corporation and Highway Services do not object (17/05/2016 & 07/06/2016) ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The fundamental issues to consider in the assessment of this current planning application are the impacts of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the building and surrounding area.

6.2 In respect of the proposed impact of signage on the building and surrounding area, it is considered that the design and style of the signage is a relatively modest and would be an acceptable form of advertising as it will not have an undue impact on the building and is judged to enhance the character of the property. It is not considered to harm public or private amenity and has no impact on highway safety. The signage is considered to be appropriate to the building and could be removed without damage to the building. RECOMMENDATION - 7.1 Overall, it is concluded that the planning application is in accordance with aforementioned policies of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 and is recommended for approval. INTERESTED PERSON STATUS - 8.1 In line with Article 6(4) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure)(No2) Order 2013, the following Persons are considered to have sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application: the applicant or, if there is one, the applicant's agent; the owner and occupier of the land the subject of the application; Highway Services, and the Local Authority in whose district the land the subject of the application sits.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 08.06.2016 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C . The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents. This approval relates to drawings submitted on the 26th April referrenced; 16/2536/02, R-003-ELE and photo montages.

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

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 20.06.2016 Determining officer

Signed : J CHANCE Jennifer Chance Interim Director of Planning and Building Control

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