5 September 2014 · Council of Ministers
La Piazza Pizzeria, Grand View Hotel, Loch Promenade, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 2bt
The proposal involved setting up an outdoor seating area for 24 seats at 8 tables on the recently widened pavement outside La Piazza restaurant, located on the first floor above Pizza Hut within the Douglas Promenades Conservation Area.
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The Inspector acknowledged the proposal would add vitality to the Promenade, complement public realm improvements, preserve and enhance the Conservation Area's commercial character, and retain suffici…
General Policy 1
Requires regard to Development Plan and material considerations. Officer considered this in overall assessment, finding proposal accords subject to policy tests.
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect surroundings, not adversely affect amenity/character/highway safety/accessibility. Officer found compliant on character, highway, amenity; Inspector found partial failure on accessibility and surveillance aspects material to public interest.
Environment Policy 35
Permits development in Conservation Areas only if preserving/enhancing character. Both officer and Inspector agreed proposal preserves/enhances commercial character.
Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Policy CA/2 (Conservation Areas)
Emphasises impact on special character of Conservation Area. Assessed as acceptable, preserving character.
General Policy 6
Permits advertisements in towns if high design standard, in keeping, no highway hazard. Inspector found signage innocuous.
Environment Policy 37
Permits advertisements in Conservation Areas if preserving/enhancing, appropriate style, traditional materials. Assessed as compliant.
Do not oppose subject to conditions: 3.5m unobstructed pedestrian passage, approved barrier with tapper rail, observable from premises for supervision, contact Network Operations prior to highway works
Advisory note: contact for works near underground cables/overhead lines; requires 24 hours access to cables in public highway
PH Isle of Man Limited strongly objects due to business impacts and non-compliance with pavement café guidelines, while Douglas Corporation and Highways have no objection (with conditions from Highways), and Manx Utilities requests contact and access.
Key concern: La Piazza do not own the area directly in front of PH Isle of Man Limited premises, restricting their business
PH Isle of Man Limited
Objectionrestricts and limits our business whilst confusing the public at large; The applicant simply cannot provide this being on an upper floor; We would ask how the applicant will do this with no ground floor toilet and wash facilities
Manx Utilities
Conditional No ObjectionManx Utilities requires 24 hours unrestricted access to the cables in the public highway and Manx Utilities will not be liable for any loss of income
Conditions requested: applicant must contact the Authority; Contact Network Operations Department (Tel. 687687) to discuss working practices around cables and overhead lines; Contact Manx Utilities for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents (Tel. 687766); All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 & GS6; Manx Utilities requires 24 hours unrestricted access to the cables in the public highway
Douglas Corporation
No ObjectionDouglas Corporation have no objection to the proposals
Department of Infrastructure (Highways)
Conditional No ObjectionDo not oppose subject to the imposition of the following conditions
Conditions requested: A 3.5 metre wide unobstructed area must be maintained for pedestrian passage; The seating area must be contained within an approved barrier (including a tapper rail for those with impaired visibility); The pavement café area must be observable from inside the premises to ensure staff can supervise the area as if it were inside the premises; The applicant shall contact the Network Operations Section of the Department of Infrastructure prior to carrying out any works within the highway, including the installation of dropped kerbs. Telephone 686665
