Officer Planning Report Recommendation

Application No.: 09/00693/B Applicant: Department Of Education Works Division Proposal: Installation of an external door and soft play area Site Address: - Pulrose Youth & Community Centre - Pulrose Road - Douglas - Isle Of Man - IM2 1AT ### Considerations Case Officer: Mr Gary Barr Photo Taken: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Site Visit: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Expected Decision Level: Senior Planning Officer ### Written Representations ### Consultations Consultee: Highways Division Notes: Do not oppose Consultee: Douglas Corporation Notes:** No objection

Officer's Report

The Site

The application site comprises of the curtilage of Pulrose Youth & Community Centre, Pulrose Road in Douglas. The youth centre is bordered by The Pulrose Golf Course (South) and Pulrose Housing Estate (North and West).

The Proposal

The planning application seeks approval for the replacement of an existing window with a door within the enclave of the sheltered area. Adjoining this, at the southern corner of the school approximately 11800mm x 14045mm would be covered in a wet pour surface for a soft coloured play area for children.

Around the perimeter of the play area there would be a 1200mm high tubular bow top fence with a storage shed located at the northern boundary of the proposed play area.

Planning Status

The application site is located within an area designated as a "Primary School" under the Douglas South Local Plan, 1998. The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains a policy which is considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application - General Policy 2 states:

2 June 2009

"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; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality;

• (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space;

• (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption." PLANNING HISTORY The following previous planning applications should be considered relevant in the assessment and determination of this application:

PA 86/00525/B - Conversion of school into Youth & Community Centre, pre-school assessment and nursery unit, Pulrose Infants School - Permitted

PA 91/01862/B - Extension and refurbishment, Pre-school Assessment Unit, Pulrose Community Centre - Permitted PA 91/04099/B - Siting of mobile classroom, Pulrose Youth, Community and Re-assessment Centre - Permitted PA 08/02060/B - Erection of a shelter - Permitted REPRESENTATIONS The Department of Transport and Highways Division do not oppose the development. Douglas Corporation has no objection with this proposal.

ASSESSMENT

The proposed application respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, scale and design. The colours and materials used are practical for a development of this type and would result in improvements to the site. As such, the visual amenities of the locality would be protected when viewed from the public thoroughfare.

2 June 2009

Recommendation

For these reasons the proposal is considered acceptable and it is recommended that the planning application be permitted.

Party Status

It is considered that the following parties, who submitted comments, accord with the requirements of Planning Circular 1/06 and are therefore, afforded Interested Party Status:

• Douglas Corporation
• The Department of Transport Highways Division

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 02.06.2009

Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

• C: Conditions for approval
• N: Notes attached to conditions
• R: Reasons for refusal
• O: 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 relates to the submitted Drawings Master /01, 12-06-03-03-01 01 / A, 12-06-03-03-01 02 / A and Photograph Sheet all received on 16th April, 2009.

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I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 10/09, Delegation of Functions (Development Procedure), GC No 11/09 (Advertisements) and GC No 12/09 (Registered Buildings) all to the Senior Planning Officer

Decision Made: Permitted Date: 27 June 2009 Signed: __________________________ Senior Planning Officer