DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 20/01405/B Applicant: Mr John Pirrie Proposal: Installation of a replacement front door Site Address: 78A Malew Street Castletown Isle Of Man IM9 1LS Principal Planner: Miss S E Corlett Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 04.01.2021 _________________________________________________________________

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 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason.

The proposed replacement door is of a more appropriate design than the existing, even if it were to have decorative glass. The door therefore enhances the character and appearance of the area and the composite material will have the effect of the original timber, all in accordance with General Policy 2, Environment Policies 34 and 35 and Planning Policy Statement 1/01.

Plans/Drawings/Information; This decision relates to drawings 01146, 01146A, 01146B and 01146C all received on 24th November, 2020. _______________________________________________________________ Interested Person Status – Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The site is the curtilage of an existing dwelling situated on the north eastern side of Malew Street just north of its intersection with The Crofts. The property is a three storey building which has buildings attached on each side: the ground floor is finished in roughcast render and the floors above it in exposed pointed stonework. The three windows in the front elevation are sliding sash and the door is a timber door with a large, central, vertical light within it. THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the replacement of the existing door with a solid four panelled door the top two of which are glazed (the application illustration show patterned glass) in composite material. PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 The site lies within an area designated on the Area Plan for the South as Residential and within the town Conservation Area.

3.2 As such, the following parts of the Strategic Plan are relevant:

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;
• (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses;

• (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 and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption."

Environment Policy 34 expresses a preference for the use of traditional materials in the alteration of pre-1920 properties and EP 35 requires development within Conservation Areas to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area.

3.4 The Department has recently published the Residential Design Guidance (March 2019) which provides advice on the design of new houses and extensions to existing property as well

• as how to assess the impact of such development on the living conditions of those in adjacent residential property.

3.5 Planning Policy Statement 1/01 sets out guidance on development within Conservation Areas which advises that the special character of the building should be taken in to account in the determination of development proposals.

PLANNING HISTORY 4.1 In 2012 planning approval was granted for the replacement of the windows in the property

• at the front and rear. REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 Highway Services have no highway interest in the application (18.12.20). ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The proposed replacement door is of a more appropriate design than the existing, even if it were to have decorative glass. The door therefore enhances the character and appearance of the area and the composite material will have the effect of the original timber, all in accordance with General Policy 2, Environment Policies 34 and 35 and Planning Policy Statement 1/01. CONCLUSION - 7.1 The door therefore enhances the character and appearance of the area and the composite material will have the effect of the original timber, all in accordance with General Policy 2, Environment Policies 34 and 35 and Planning Policy Statement 1/01. INTERESTED PERSON STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf);
• (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure;
• (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (f) the local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated; and
• (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material. 8.2 The decision maker must determine:

• o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and
• o whether there are other persons to those listed in Article 4(2) who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Head of Development Management in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 05.01.2021 Determining officer

Signed : S BUTLER Stephen Butler Head of Development Management

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