Planning Statement
Land At Victoria Road for Spreadway Ltd
Land At Victoria Road for Spreadway Ltd
Job No. 3.1498 1.00 Planning Statement
Job No. 3.1498 1.00 Planning Statement
Proposed Apartment Development Victoria Road Douglas for Spreadway Ltd Job No. 3.1498
Planning Statement
15th December 2004
An application (No. 04/00343/B) was submitted on the 23rd February 2004 for the erection of 33 No. Apartments with integral parking and was subsequently refused at the meeting of the 21st May 2004. There were two reasons for refusal:-
1) By virtue of its bulk, its height, and its closeness to the road, the building facing Victoria Road would: (a) Dominate nearby buildings and local street scenes; and would (b) be inappropriate at this part of the town, where the nature of the built environment changes from urban to sub-urban.
2) It is not possible at this time to make available an increased supply of fresh potable water to serve the proposed development.
A meeting was held with Mr Sinden, Planning Officer for Douglas, and he outlined the Committee’s concerns regarding the size and mass of Block A to Victoria Road. He considered that the Committee were reasonably happy with the scale of Block B.
Having taken note of Mr Sinden’s comments we have redesigned the scheme generally to:
a) Reduce the mass to Victoria Road by creating two distinct smaller blocks linked by the garden at first floor level. b) Reduce the number of apartments from 33 to 29. c) Significantly reducing the total area of apartments from 2839m² to 2170m², i.e. reduction of 669m² (7,200 ft²).
We feel that the resultant opening up of the development garden area to Victoria Road will create open space and views through the development. Car parking is again all below the garden area at a ratio exceeding the minimum standard. We also feel that an open aspect is created facing Princes Road with only the gables facing the existing properties. Block A is of a similar scale as the facing buildings in Victoria Road and remains largely as previously shown.
We understand that reason for refusal (2) regarding the supply of potable water is no longer applicable and the Isle of Man Water Authority no longer object to new development on these grounds.
