Minister Appeal Decision PA05/1539/B

Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SF. Tel: (01624) 685859 Fax: (01624) 685873 E-mail: [email protected]

R. A. Hamilton Assoc. CIPD, FCMI

Government Reiltys Silen Vannin

Please reply to the Chief Executive Our ref: RAH/MC 5th October 2006. Dear Sir/Madam,

PA05/1539/B -ON APPEAL- Snowbrook Limited & Subsidiaries - Proposed development of 14 houses, 10 apartments, 3 maisonettes, 9 retail units, a public footway linking Arbory and Malew Streets to include public amenities in the form of a coffee shop, town square, public garden and stone arch bridge, Callows Yard (including 17 and 19 Malew Street, 4A, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 Arbory Street, Physic Garden and land in between), Castletown

I refer to the recent appeal hearing in respect of the above planning application.

In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7(5) of Schedule 1 to the Isle of Man Planning Scheme (Development Plan) Order 1982, I am enclosing herewith a copy of the report of the person appointed to hear this appeal.

The Minister has considered the report, but does not concur with all of the appointed person's conclusions. However, he does accept that, in essence, the determination of this appeal is a matter of judging whether the conservation and regeneration benefits of the proposal outweigh the adverse effects arising from the absence of parking provision. He also accepts the conclusions, set out in paragraph 76 of the report, that:-

(a) "this development is very desirable in terms of the townscape"; and that (b) "in townscape terms it would be most unfortunate if parking space ... was to be provided on site, since the access arrangements would inevitably be out of scale and character with the special nature of the area".

In these circumstances, the Minister has concluded that --

(a) the disadvantages arising from the absence of parking provision are not so great as to outweigh the undoubted advantages of the proposal; and that (b) the expeditious progress of this scheme should not be jeopardised by the obvious difficulty of securing a satisfactory arrangement for off-site parking provision.

Continued/...

Our ref: RAH/MC 5th October 2006.

Accordingly, he has directed that the appeal should be dismissed and that the Planning Committee's decision approving the application at Review should be confirmed. In so doing, the Minister urges the Department of Transport and Castletown Town Commissioners to continue their investigation and formulation of proposals for resolving the long-term problems associated with parking in the Town in the interests of the local community.

Yours faithfully, Chief Executive. Please see over for circulation list/...

1. Oct. 2006 16:44

No. 9488 P. 3

Circulation List – PA05/1539

1. Messrs. Carters, Advocates for the Applicant, 3 Athol Street, Douglas, IM1 1LD;
2. Castletown Town Commissioners;
3. Messrs. Kelly Luft, Advocates for Mr. and Mrs. D. Stott, 2 Sydney Mount, Corner of Circular Road and Buck's Road, Douglas, IM1 1QD (Ref: S02950001/WJWA/AP);
4. Highways & Traffic Division, Department of Transport;
5. IOM Fire & Rescue Service, Elm Tree House, Elm Tree Road, Onchan, IM3 4EF;
6. IOM Water Authority, Tromode Road, Douglas, IM2 5PA;
7. Manx National Heritage, Manx Museum, Douglas;
8. Environmental Health Office, DLGE;
9. Manx Electricity Authority, PO Box 177, Douglas, IM99 1PS;
10. Mr. J. Kewin, Dolphin House, 43 Arbory Street, Castletown, IM9 1LL;
11. Mr. N. R. Taylor, 29A Arbory Street, Castletown, IM9 1LL;
12. A. J. Kelly, 38 The Crofts, Castletown, IM9 1LZ;
13. B. Dean, 44 The Croft, Castletown, IM9 1LZ;
14. J. and A. G. and A. D. Bell, Ballaqueston Farmhouse, Malew Road, Ballasalia;
15. Mr. R. J. Harding, 25 Arbory Street, Castletown, IM9 1BE;
16. D. Van Rhyn, 16 Malew Street, Castletown, IM9 1AB;
17. Mr. S. R. Crowther, 31 Arbory Street, Castletown, IM9 1LL;
18. Castletown Heritage, 27 Queen Street, Castletown, IM9 1PB;
19. J. O. Lee, Crofton, The Crofts, Castletown, IM9 1LW;
20. Corleco Management, PO Box 255, Douglas, IM99 1XS;
21. Disability Access Officer, Manx Foundation for the Physically Disabled, Masham Court, Victoria Avenue, Douglas;
22. SPMC&E, Glebe Cottage, Church Road, Maughold, IM7 1AS;
23. Mr. A. Jessopp, PMCS, Seacliffe, Old Castletown Road, Ballaveare, Braddan;
24. Secretary, Planning Committee;
25. Chairman and Members of the Planning Committee;
26. Secretary, Planning Appeals Inspectorate;
27. Mr. T. O'Hanlon, Treasury;
28. The Editor, Isle of Man Newspapers, Peel Road, Douglas;
29. Manx Radio Newsroom, Douglas Head, Douglas;
30. Ms. J. Green, Apt 5, Greenhill, Stanley Mount West, Ramsey, IM8 1LR;
31. Radio 3FM, 45 Victoria Street, Douglas, IM1 3RS;
32. Energy FM, 100 Market Street, Douglas, IM1 1PH;
33. Tynwald Members Room;
34. Central Reference Library.