Officer Report

Application No.: 15/00957/C Applicant: Department Of Home Affairs Proposal: Change of use of existing cottages from residential to provide office, training and storage facilities Site Address: Drill Hall Cottages Tromode Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 5PA Case Officer : Miss Abigail Morgan Site Visit: 08.09.2015 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report APPLICATION SITE

1.1 The site is the curtilage of the former Water Board headquarters otherwise known as the 'Drill Hall' located on the eastern side of Tromode Road. The building sits with an area surrounded by vehicle parking and industrial storage compound to the rear. The land/buildings are shared amongst other government departments and Civil Defence, Army Cadets and Police. THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 The proposal is for the change of use of the two cottages to offices, trainings rooms and storage for Civil Defence Cops and Emergency Planning.

2.2 There are no internal or external alterations proposed, which if required would need a separate planning application. PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 The application site has recently been the subject of two previous planning applications to the rear of the building which were granted planning permission and considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application: PA 15/00320/B - Enclosure of existing open roof access to form first floor porch, lobby and toilet facilities. - Approved PA 15/00381/B - Removal of three shutter doors and replacement with three personnel doors and screen, to rear elevation. - Approved PA 15/00764/B - Door and window alterations and provision of car-port to rear elevation Approved DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICIES - 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site is within an area designated as an Area or Building of Civic, Cultural and other special use - Government Use. The site is not within a Conservation Area.

4.2 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains one policy that is considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. General Policy of The Isle of Man Strategic Plan (20th June 2007) states; - 4.3 General Policy 2; "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:

• (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; REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 No comments were received at the time of writing. - 6.0 ASSESSMENT

6.1 The buildings are sited to the rear of the Tromode site and according to the Planning Statement were previously used as accommodation for Water Authority workers but have been vacant for a number of years. Considering their location within a wider non-residential use it is unlikely that these two cottages would come back into use for general residential. - 6.2 There have recently been a number of planning applications relating to the different buildings on the site since the Department of Home Affairs have taken ownership of the site, namely for external alterations to some of the larger buildings to facilitate their use as the Corporate Headquarters. What would have been useful would have been an overall comprehensive strategy when taking ownership of the site. - 6.3 The proposed change of use would not compromise the amenity of the building or the site as a whole, there is no neighbouring properties close in the vicinity. It is considered the proposal is deemed acceptable. - 6.4 Overall, it is concluded that the planning application is in accordance with General Policy 2, of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 RECOMMENDATION

7.1 It is recommended that the application be approved, subject to conditions. - 8.0 PARTY STATUS

By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
• (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material , in this case, Department of Infrastructure Highway Services and (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Fisheries are part of the same Department as is the planning authority and as such should not be afforded interested person status under the Order.

With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word 'Department' to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 15.09.2015 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 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.

This approval relates to the Location Plan Ref DH01, Site Plan Ref DH02, drawings 1540/AA(0-) 01, 02, 04, 05 and Planning Statement all date stamped as received 18th August, 2015.

I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to the Director of Planning and Building Control.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 15.09.2015 Determining officer

Signed :………M GALLAGHER.. Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control