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Personal Statement from Applicant
Tel 01624824247 $15 / 6 / 10$ The Secretary of the Planning Committee, Planning \& Building Control, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SF Dear Sir/Madam,
We are submitting a full planning application for a house to be be built in Knock Rushen House garden as per enclosed documentation. Outline planning permission for a house was granted in October 2008. However, since that date, construction of Hartford Homes Development directly behind and alongside Knock Rushen House is of such unprecedented height and closeness that our House has suffered catastrophic Blight.
Because of this change of environment, we request that the following observations are taken into account whilst determining this full Planning Application...
The height and closeness of the Knock Rushen Development has turned out to be far in excess of anything that anyone could have imagined. This not just ourselves speaking. We have yet to meet anyone from Castletown and elsewhere who has not spoken out and been agast at what has happened here.
The first of the two large three story houses in the Development ( Number 45) exceeds Knock Rushen house Height by 3.51 metres ( 11 ft 6 ins). This is a qualified Surveyors measurement. It is a floor higher and dominates our Curtilage both internally and externally. Its very closeness (we believe less than 20mtrs) has devastated our privacy. It has blighted all our north wall windows with seclusion and light lost in Kitchen having now to use artificial light in daylight hours. Living room, Snug, Entrance Hall, Landings, Office, bathrooms and Bedrooms suffer privacy loss together with most of the gardens including our gateway. The ground floor of this three storey house is more or less level with our first floor. It is possible to see from the Development straight through some of Knock Rushen's north windows to the south windows including the inside of our Entrance Hall!
As you can appreciate, these houses are on rising ground and most of the other adjacent houses contribute to privacy loss.
The only access road for these 47 dwellings is very close indeed to our north boundary wall. The closest point is approx 54 inches. Situated between house 45 and Knock Rushen House, the level of the road is such that pedestrians and vehicles have vision straight into our first floor windows. The only way that we could regain that privacy is by building approx 16 mtr wall which is ridiculous.
The situation is to be further exacerbated by the identical house number 1 which is to be at least as high, if not higher than No 45 and positioned directly behind our Lawn. This house will overlook our West wall including Sitting room, Master Bedroom and Guest bedroom, master bathroom and dressing room windows. Even further compromise will come because we understand that Trees in the protective copse must be cropped or felled before House number 1 and Garage can be built. In any case, there can be no permanency for these trees once they pass into private ownership. We all know that they do not provide privacy during winter months.
With the Development completed, Knock Rushen House will be totally overlooked on three of its sides (Northeast, Northwest and Southwest) with, in addition, the Emergency Exit down one side of our Property with an outflow pipe terminating on the beach in a concrete structure approx 2100mm by 1800mm. Knock Rushen House has been irretrievably and severely blighted. It is beyond understanding as to why such tall and large three story houses with Dormers should have been allowed to be built in such close proximity to Knock Rushen House. We are enclosing copies of correspondence sent to and received from your Compliance Officer requesting building heights.
Visual effects of this development have completely altered the skyline for miles around. People who have boats have told us that the development usurps the view of Knock Rushen House from the sea. The Development is like a Carbuncle which is bigger than its Host. KRH has lost all its dignity and privacy. It is no longer a Country House in a prestigious curtilage. The only conclusion to be drawn is that no proper consideration was given to its Countenance, Light and privacy during the previous Planning procedures.
We attach photographs indicating the visual impact so far generated by the Development including approximate position and height of House No 1 yet to be built. A. View from Foreshore before Knock Rushen Housing Development. B. View from Foreshore. 23 May 2010. Housing Development incomplete. C. Knock Rushen House over looked by House No. 45 on Development. D\&E. Views indicating approx height and position of Development House No 1 yet to be built.
Mr McCauley and the Hon Tony Brown have both responded to our invitations to visit Knock Rushen House internally and externally to see the development impact for themselves, such is our concern not to be accused of exaggerating. The full impact is only possible from within the house. We give the same invitation, without prejudice, to Members of the Planning Committee should they feel it worthwhile in assessing the situation. Please phone beforehand.
As things stand, the level of overlook on the Lawn will be so complete that it holds very little value to KRH if left untouched. The house proposed will provide a refuge from this development onslaught and our present Planning Application reflects this. To us, the Planning limitations on footprint size applied two years ago no longer appear appropriate.
As you can see, we have applied for a three story house which will sit well below the Knock Rushen Development. Its ground floor level will be below Knock Rushen House floor level. With this house in place it will give the Residents privacy. We consider that there is more than enough space for this house.
Yours sincerely,
G \& M.V. CrossleyMeates.
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