DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 20/01529/D Applicant: Corlett Sons And Cowley Ltd Proposal: Installation of signage Site Address: Corlett Sons And Cowley Main Road Union Mills Isle Of Man IM4 4AD Planning Officer: Mrs Vanessa Porter Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 24.02.2021 _________________________________________________________________

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

• C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice. Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents.
• C 2. The location of the sign along Main Road must be installed as per the location plan dated 27th January 2020. Reason: In the interests of Highway Safety and for the benefit of doubt.

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

The installation of the non-illuminated signage complies with The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 and is also in accordance with General Policy 6 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This decision relates to the following plans and drawings, date stamped received on 10th December 2020:

• o Drawing of signs with sizing details
• o Location Plan

This decision also relates to the site map received 27th January 2021 which shows the exact position of the roadside signage.

_____________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status – Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report THE APPLICATION SITE

1.1 The application site is within the curtilage of The Old Chapel which is located on the northern side of Maitland Terrace, Main Road, Union Mills. The Old Chapel itself is prominent within the overall streetscene given its siting and form. - 1.2 The Old Chapel is bounded by stone walling on the northern, eastern and southern side and is open on the western side. - 1.3 The immediate surrounding area has a range of uses ranging from retail, residential and industry. THE PROPOSAL

2.1 The current planning application seeks approval for the erection of non illuminated signage in the form of two areas. - 2.2 Proposed within the boundary stone wall at the junction Main Road is an information sign measuring 2m by 1.19m which will be white with blue and black writing. The sign will be attached to wooden poles. - 2.3 Proposed to the main yard is a disband, vinyl sign measuring 1m by 0.6m which will be white and have the wording "Corlett's Yard" in blue. This will be affixed to the already existing metal fencing. PLANNING HISTORY

3.1 The previous planning applications are not considered to be specifically material in the assessment of the current application. PLANNING POLICY - 4.1 The site lies within an area zoned as Predominantly Residential on the Area Plan for the East, Map 8, Union Mills. There is also an "Individual Registered Tree" on the site.

4.2 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make it clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar. - 4.3 Due to the designation of the site and the nature of the application it is appropriate to consider the following polices of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016:

4.4 General Policy 2 states: "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;

4.5 General Policy 6 states: 'Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they:

• (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed;
• (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and
• (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard'.

4.6 General Policy 7 states: 'Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements on sites or buildings other than those to which they relate will not generally be permitted'. REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 Highway Services have considered the application and "Do not oppose" stating the following, "After reviewing this application, highway services find it to have no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network efficiency and/or parking subject to the signboard proposed at the junction being positioned behind the wall to avoid the sight line being obstructed." (19.01.21).

5.2 Braddan Parish Commissioners have considered the proposal and wish to object stating, "The Board wishes to object to the above planning application as it would appear to restrict sightlines. Further to this matter the Clerk was asked to raise with the Highways Section of DOI the Commissioners' concerns over the increase in traffic flow to the site, which they felt was unacceptable." (29.1.21). - 5.3 DOI Flood Risk Management Division has considered the proposal and finds "No flood risk management interest." (11.2.21) - 5.4 Due to the registered tree on site, the Arboricultural Officer was asked for comment and stated, "As the sign would be fixed on two posts concreated in the ground, it would have very small impact to the tree, however the tree is likely to full recover. The department would not object to this proposal." (18.02.21) ASSESSMENT

6.1 The fundamental issue to consider in the assessment of this application are the impacts of the proposed signage on the appearance of the surrounding area.

6.2 When looking at the proposed signage on the main road, this type of gateway signage is fairly common across industrial estates and business parks. The signage itself is considered to be prominent enough to be noticeable and easily read by passers-by but not in a position which would distract users of the highway or to cause any highway safety concerns. - 6.3 Whilst the proposed signage on the main road is not directly on land in conjunction with the industrial estate, the signage has been proposed here due to it being the most logical position to assist clients to the site and the proposed signage itself will not have an undue impact on the building or area.

6.4 When looking at the proposed signage which is to be attached to the gates to the industrial estate, it is judged to be in keeping with the surrounding area and would therefore not result in a harmful impact on the character of the area and is deemed not to cause a highway safety hazard. CONCLUSION

7.1 The proposal would not unacceptably the character of its surroundings. The proposed development would not result in a significant adverse impact upon safety of highway users. The proposal therefore complies with the aforementioned policies of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. 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 above who should be given Interested Person Status

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner 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: 23.03.2021 Determining officer

Signed : A MORGAN Abigail Morgan Principal Planner

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