Planning Officer Report

Officer's Report

Application No.:	13/00046/B
Applicant:	Ramsey Press 96
Proposal:	Installation of replacement entrance doors
Site Address:	Ramsey Press
Garretts Court
Market Place West
Ramsey
Isle Of Man
IM8 1JX
Case Officer:	Miss Melissa McKnight
Photo Taken:
Site Visit:
Expected Decision Level:	Officer Delegation

The Application Site

1. The application site is the curtilage of Ramsey Press a two storey detached retail unit sited to the rear of the Lucky Star Cafe and Nightlife in Ramsey. The application site is located via Garrots Court, 12.4 metres from the public footpath. The application site building adjoins the rear of Feltons DIY store to the north elevation and the south elevation of a vacant office unit.

1. The existing building is finished in a painted render and has timber framed windows throughout with a timber framed front entrance door which is the subject of this current planning application.

The Proposal

1. The planning application seeks approval for the replacement of the front door with a Rosewood uPVC framed door that would replicate the general appearance of the existing timber door.

Planning History

1. The application site has not been the subject of any previous planning applications.

Planning Policy

1. In terms of local plan policy, the application site is in an area designated as Town Centre Mixed Use under the Ramsey Local Plan Order 1998 Map No. 2 (South). The application site is within the Ramsey Conservation Area. The application site also falls within the Sulby River Flood Zone which has a flood return period of 200 years. There are no policies within Planning Circular 2/99, the written statement accompanies the Local Plan, considered specifically relevant to the assessment of this current planning application.

1. In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains two policies that are considered specifically relevant 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:

• (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief;
• (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;

Environment Policy 10 states: "Where development is proposed on any site where in the opinion of the Department of Local Government and the Environment there is a potential risk of flooding, a flood risk assessment and details of proposed mitigation measures must accompany any application for planning permission."

Environmental Policy 35 states: "Within Conservation Areas, the department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development."

Representations

1. At the time of writing there have been no written representations made regarding the current planning application.

Assessment

1. Given the nature of development proposed, it is relevant to assess the impacts of the proposal on the character and quality of the Conservation Area and nearby Registered Building.
2. Environment Policy 35 states that development within a Conservation Area will only be permitted if the development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area. The new proposed door on the western front elevation of the building would replicate what is exists albeit material and colour and is judged to significantly improve the appearance of the front of the building.
3. Given the location of the application building to the rear of Garrets Court, the building would only be thoroughly noticed if one was consciously looking for it with doors least visible than the actual building. Overall given the doors are a significant improvement to what is in situ and location of the application site, the proposed doors are judged to have a minimal impact on Ramsey Conservation Area and adjacent Registered Building.
4. Overall, it is concluded that the planning application is in accordance with General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007.

Recommendation

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

Party Status

1. The local authority, Ramsey Town Commissioners, is 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 19.02.2013 Recommendation:

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. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

C 2. This approval for the installation of replacement entrance doors relates to drawings titled REF 1, REF 2, REF 4, REF 5, REF 7 and 1 x A4 sheet detailing photographs of the application site building all date stamped 16th January 2013.

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.

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