Dept Decision Notice and Inspector's Report

PLANNING & BUILDING CONTROL RECEIVED ON 10 JUN 2015 DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

CABINET OFFICE Government Office DOUGLAS Isle of Man IM1 3PN Direct Line (01624) 685280 Fax Number (01624) 685710 Email [email protected] CHIEF SECRETARY Mr Will Greenhow ACMA

Our Reference : DF15/0012

Planning Secretary Planning and Building Control Directorate Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas

Dear Sir/Madam,

Town And Country Planning Act 1999

Town And Country Planning (Development Procedure)

(No2) ORDER 2013

I refer to the abovementioned planning application.

In accordance with Article 10(9) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, I herewith give notice of the decision as follows.

On 4th June 2015, the Council of Ministers considered the recommendations of the Planning Inspector and determined to approve the application subject to the condition and Note specified below.

Conditions of Approval

1. 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.

PA Ref	15/00332/B
Applicant	The Co-Operative Group
Proposal	Creation of a ramp for disabled access outside the shop entrance
Address	The Co-Operative Food 18 Duke Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2AY

Note

This approval relates to Drawings PL001, PL002, PL003, PL004 and PL005 all date stamped on 26th March 2015.

In accordance with Article 10(10)(c) of the Order, please be advised that the decision of the Council of Ministers is binding and final (subject to the possibility of judicial review by petition of doleance).

Yours faithfully,

A Johnstone Planning Appeals Administrator On behalf of the Chief Secretary

Cabinet Office Reference DF15/0012 Application No 15/00332/B Inspector's report

Application by The Co-operative Group for: Creation of a disabled access ramp at the shop entrance, The Co-operative Food Store, 18 Duke Street, Douglas IM1 2AY.

Site Visit: Thursday 14th May 2015

Preamble

1. The application was referred to the Council of Ministers in accordance with Section 10(1)(b) of The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, because the proposal is for works on the public highway, owned or controlled by the Department of Infrastructure, as Highway Authority.

1. Duke Street is a pedestrianised retail thoroughfare, recently subject to regenerative upgrading, some 9.5 m wide at this point. There is a step up of about 100 mm into the Co-op supermarket, which the application proposal would address by means of a splayed ramp 2.0 m deep from the shop frontage, undertaken in blockwork to match that on the street.

Gist of the Submissions

1. Planning Officer: sets out relevant Development Plan policies. Assessed against these, the alterations are very modest and would have no adverse impact upon the visual amenities of the property or street scene. The greater accessibility for visitors and staff could only be positive and beneficial. Approval is recommended.

1. Douglas Borough Council: no objection.

Inspector's Assessment

1. There is very little that I need add to the Planning Officer's assessment. The ramp has been well designed, so that it could be used approaching or leaving in any direction, with obvious benefits for anyone who has difficulty with the step or is pushing a child's buggy. At 1:20 the resulting slope accords with accessibility guidelines, and there would remain ample width for passers-by not using the shop. The proposal commendably complies in all material regards with Strategic Plan General Policy 2 and supports the Plan's community and transport aims.

Recommendation

1. I recommend that the application be approved subject to the conditions and note below, in line with those suggested by the Planning Officer.

Alan Langton

DipTP CEng MRTPI MICE MCIHT

Inspector

1. 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.

Note: this approval relates to Drawings PL001, PL002, PL003, PL004 and PL005 all date stamped on 26th March 2015.