Planning Officer Report

Planning Officer Report And Recommendations {{table:78186}} Case Officer : Mr Jamie Leadbeater Photo Taken : Site Visit : 19.06.2012 Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Officer's Report

The Application Site

1. The application site is the curtilage of Ramsey Grammar School East on Lezayre Road, Ramsey. The site is located between a line of dwellings to the south of Lezayre Road and is bordered by Ramsey Grammar School West, to the west, and Ramsey Golf Course to the south. The application site includes a large sports field to the rear of the East school buildings, which includes a large artificial sports pitch and adjoining portakabin to its east.

The Proposal

1. The applicant seeks permission to retain a portakabin directly adjacent to the synthetic sports pitch at Ramsey Grammar School to provide ancillary office space/storage space and can act as an emergency base.

Planning History

1. The application site has been the subject of two previous planning applications, which are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application:

07/01855/B – Retention of existing portakabin adjacent to synthetic pitch – Approved for 4 years.

03/01306/B – Continued approval for the siting of a portakabin in association with synthetic pitch – Approved for 4 years.

Planning Policy

1. The application site falls within an area designated as a Secondary School in the Ramsey (South) Local Plan 1998. There are no policies that accompanies the local plan, which are considered specifically material to the assessment of the planning application.

1. The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. 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;

Community Policy 5 states:

"Permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools and institutions of higher education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated open space".

Representations

1. There were no representations received within the statutory consultation time period.

Assessment

1. The portakabin is sited over 70 metres from Lezayre Road, behind the building line of the east school building and therefore is not considered it would adversely affect general public amenity, although it is appreciated the application building itself does serve some small majority of the public. The scale of the portakabin is modest and is considered to have little impact on the landscape within the context of the surrounding area. The portakabin is used by the school and non-students outside of school hours. Given that no objections have been registered against its continued use, it considered this is likely to indicate it serves as an important resource for its existing users. Overall, it is considered the portakabin has many planning merits which comply with the provisions of General Policy 2 and Community Policy 5 in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 and therefore should continue to be used in conjunction with the synthetic sports pitch.

Recommendation

1. It is recommended that the planning application be approved.

Party Status

1. It is considered that the following parties that made representations to the planning application should be afforded interested party status:

The local authority, Ramsey Town Commissioners are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 10.07.2012

Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal

• : Notes attached to refusals

C 1.

This approval relates to the provision of a portakabin ancillary to the adjoining synthetic sports pitch for office, store and emergency purposes, shown in: the dimensions drawing, photographs, 1:1750 scale Location Plan and 1:500 Site Plan, all received on 29th May 2012.

I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control / Development Control Manager/ Senior Planning Officer.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 13.7.12

Determining officer (delete as appropriate)

Signed : _________________________ Anthony Holmes Senior Planning Officer

Signed : _________________________ Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control

Signed : _________________________ Sarah Corlett Senior Planning Officer

Signed : _________________________ Jennifer Chance Development Control Manager