Supporting Statement Approval in Principle

Supporting Statement - Approval In Principle For The Development Of A Small Element Of Land At Cass-A-Lergy, Kirk Michael, For Residential Purposes

Objective

The Local Area Plan for Kirk Michael as published 20 years ago zoned significant areas of land for residential development. However there are still large elements of zoned land for which planning applications/approvals have yet to be forthcoming. With no re-visit of the Kirk Michael/Northern Strategic Plan appearing to be imminent the owners of Cass-a Lergy would like to formally apply for approval in principle to develop a small element of the 5 acres of land they own to accommodate two family homes.

Family History And Current Situation

Whilst originally brought up in Douglas, Julie and Dick have lived together in Kirk Michael for most of their adult life. Their first Kirk Michael home was one that, with the help of family and friends, they self-built at 23 Kerrocruin. In 1988 they had their first child and, needing more space, in 1990 they moved to another self-build house at 6 Cool Avenue.

Two further children followed, and as the children grew up so did their passion for horses.

In 1998 a unique opportunity arose when Cass – a-Lergy, with its 5 acres of fields came onto the market. Cass – a-Lergy soon became the new family home and the land became the permanent home to their children’s two horses.

The family as a whole have a heartfelt desire for wanting to self-build energy efficient homes that they can afford to build and run. This passion was sparked when they saw first-hand through a visit to Sweden where Julie’s late brother, Dave Watterson, once worked and lived, the benefits of passive housing.

Following his move back to the Island, Dave was a key player in working with Isle of Man Government to identify cost effective build-ability solutions for generating energy efficient housing for the affordable housing market. His influence led to the recently completed passive houses at Janet’s Corner. Attached in Appendix A are some extracts from passive house web-sites that explain more fully what it is the family would like to achieve.

Having concluded her studies as an accountant, their mid-daughter, Andrea, who is now aged 25 and her partner Jon, are looking to settle down. With Andrea being Kirk Michael born and bred and Jon’s family also living there Kirk Michael is the obvious choice for their long term home.

Andrea and her partner currently have a six month rental on a nearby property but they would dearly love to have a house of their own, and with horses needing tending to on a daily basis being in close proximity to the fields where they live would be ideal.

Their son, Lewis, has just finished three years at university and has moved back home to further his career on the Isle of Man. Again being born and bred in Kirk Michael makes this the ideal place for him too.

Andrea and Lewis would welcome the opportunity to be able to build energy saving/ passive houses as they both share their uncle’s passion for passive living.

It is with all this in mind that approval in principle is being requested.

Should approval be forthcoming, the family plan to use all the knowledge gained by working alongside Dave to build two passive, long term family homes.