13 October 2014 · Delegated - Senior Planning Officer (in the name of Director of Planning and Building Control)
Laurel Bank Farm, Glen Helen Road, Laurel Bank, St. Johns, Isle Of Man, IM4 3nj
The proposal involves adding a significant 410sqm linear two-storey extension to the south west elevation of Laurel Bank Farm, a large detached dwelling in a rural location within an Area of High Landscape Value.
Click a button above to find applications similar to this one.
See how this application compares to similar ones — policies, conditions, and outcomes side by side.
The site is in an Area of High Landscape Value, not zoned for development, but extensions to existing rural dwellings are permitted under policy exceptions if they comply with relevant criteria.
General Policy 3
Restricts development outside zoned areas except for specific countryside exceptions including extensions to existing dwellings. The officer applied this as the site qualifies under exceptions for rural dwelling extensions, assessing against related housing policies.
Environment Policy 2
Protects character of Areas of High Landscape Value unless development does not harm landscape quality. Officer found the extension would not harm landscape character due to limited visibility from public views and screening.
Housing Policy 15
Applies to traditionally styled countryside properties, limiting extensions to respect proportion/form and normally under 50% floorspace increase. Officer deemed not applicable as dwelling is no longer traditional due to prior extensions.
Housing Policy 16
Generally prohibits extensions to non-traditional/poor form dwellings if increasing public visual impact. Key test applied: officer concluded extension would not increase impact given topography, screening, and subservience to existing building.
Time limit
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.
Materials matching
All external facing and roofing materials to be used shall match those of the existing building in respect of type size, colour, bond, coursing, jointing, profile and texture. Reason: In the interests of the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.
do not oppose
Highways do not oppose the application. German Parish Commissioners have no objection to the swimming pool but express concern over the innocuous design exacerbating the building's incongruity with the landscape.
Key concern: further development can only injure the locality
Department of Infrastructure
No ObjectionDo not oppose
German Parish Commissioners
No ObjectionMy Commissioners have no objection to a swimming pool however they feel that the design is rather innocuous and the building on this site is already out of context with the landscape and further development can only injure the locality
