DEC Officer Report

PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Application No.: 21/00838/C Applicant: Mr Robert Currey Proposal: Additional use of residence as tourist accommodation Site Address: Mill House Old Castletown Road Santon Isle Of Man IM4 1EX Enforcement/Planning Assistant: Ms Charlotte Gatt Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 10.09.2021 _________________________________________________________________

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.

• C 2. The existing parking and manoeuvring areas must be retained and available for parking in association with the use of the site as hereby approved.

Reason: to ensure that there is satisfactory parking and manoeuvring space for the various uses on the site.

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

It is considered that there is no demonstrable harm arising from the proposal in view of the provisions of Paragraph 9.5.8, Strategic Policy 8 and Business Policy 11, 13 and 14 and the application is therefore recommended for approval.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This decision relates to drawings and documents titled; Floor Plans and Photos all date stamped as being received by the Department on 28th June 2021.

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The site is the residential curtilage of an existing house - Mill House which sits in a large site to the west of the Old Castletown Road (A25) close to its junction with the A5 Castletown Road at the Blackboards. The site accommodates the main house and an outbuilding which is a part two storey, part single storey stone building approximately 30m to the south of the main house. This building has permission for use as ancillary living accommodation associated with Mill House (17/01086/B) and the lower floor has approval for tourist accommodation under (18/00884/C) and most recently Additional use of first floor study / studio of ancillary accommodation as tourist accommodation (19/00231/C). THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the additional use of the first floor of the main dwelling as tourist accommodation. (5 Bedrooms). PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 The site is within an area not designated for a particular purpose on the Area Plan for the South (2013).

3.2 The Strategic Plan makes the following comments which are relevant to the determination of the application:

3.3 The development of tourism should be fostered by making appropriate use of the Island's natural attractions, our built heritage and our vintage transport systems. Accordingly: - 3.4 Strategic Policy 8: "Tourist development proposals will generally be permitted where they make use of existing built fabric of interest and quality, where they do not affect adversely environmental, agricultural, or highway interests and where they enable enjoyment of our natural and manmade attractions." - 3.5 Business Policy 11: "Tourism development must be in accordance with the sustainable development objectives of this plan; policies and designations which seek to protect the countryside from development will be applied to tourist development with as much weight as they are to other types of development. Within the rural areas there may be situations where existing rural buildings could be used for tourist use and Environment Policy 16 sets out the circumstances where this may be permitted." - 3.6 "9.5.8 The use of existing private residential properties as tourist accommodation may be acceptable if it can be demonstrated that it will not compromise the amenities of any neighbouring residents." - 3.7 Business Policy 13: "Permission will generally be given for the use of private residential properties as tourist accommodation providing that it can be demonstrated that such use would not compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents." - 3.8 Business Policy 14: "Tourism development may be permitted in rural areas provided that it complies with the policies in the Plan. Farmhouse accommodation or quality self-catering units in barn conversions and making use of rural activities will be encouraged but must comply with General Policy 3 and Business Policies 11 and 12. Other forms of quality accommodation in

• rural areas will be considered, including the provision of hostels and similar accommodation suitable for walkers but must comply with General Policy 3 and Business Policies 11 and 12."
• 3.9 No new building is proposed and the tourist use would be in addition to the residential use. As such, of the above, Business Policy 13 is the most relevant.

PLANNING HISTORY

4.1 PA 19/00231/C - Additional use of first floor study / studio of ancillary accommodation as tourist accommodation - Permitted (15.04.2019)

4.2 PA 18/00884/C - Additional use of ancillary accommodation as tourist accommodation Permitted (10.10.2018)

4.3 PA 17/01086/B - Conversion of existing outbuilding to provide ancillary living accommodation - Permitted (18.12.2017) - 4.4 PA 06/00252/B - Extend front porch (Amendment to approved 01/01218) - Permitted (19.04.2006) - 4.5 PA 01/01218/B - Alterations and extensions to dwelling including additional storey and conservatory - Permitted (22.10.2001) - 4.6 PA 99/01927/A - Approval in principle for creation of home office - Permitted (04.03.2000)

REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 DOI Highways Services have commented - "After reviewing this Application, Highway Services find it to have no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network efficiency and /or parking." - Do not oppose - (03.08.21) ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The key issue is whether there would be any adverse impact from the proposed additional use. It is relevant that the Strategic Plan has policies which support the reuse of existing buildings of interest in the countryside, of which this is one, and that permission has already been granted for the conversion of the building to a form of residential use with the lower floor approved for tourist accommodation also. The comings and goings associated with the proposed use as opposed to the approved use are not likely to be significantly different and it is considered that the site and building would offer an attractive place for visitors to the Island to stay, enhancing their experience of the Island. CONCLUSION - 7.1 The proposal is considered to accord with the Development Plan policies and is supported. 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: 21.09.2021 Determining officer

Signed : A MORGAN Abigail Morgan Principal Planner

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