26 May 2006 · Council of Ministers
Marine Biological Station, Breakwater Road, Port Erin, Isle Of Man, IM9 6ja
The Marine Biological Station on Breakwater Road, Port Erin, consists of various buildings from different eras, with the original late 1890s laboratory and some extensions to be retained. The proposal involved demolishing the defective west wing (portal frame with asbestos cladding), south wing (modular concrete struct…
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The buildings proposed for demolition were in poor condition due to corrosion, lack of maintenance, asbestos cladding, and structural instability, making them unfit for purpose and uneconomic to repai…
Port Erin Local Plan Policy 13.5
Policy notes poor indication of access to open space and coastal footpath, requiring coordinated signage and information. Assessed against proposal's potential impact on adjacent coastal footpath; demolition activity could temporarily affect use but mitigated by condition requiring method statement in consultation with DoT Highways.
Time limit
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Wildlife and footpath method statement
Prior to the commencement of any works, there must be submitted to and approved by the Planning Committee a method statement addressing the impact on the wildlife interest of the cliffs at the rear of the site and the use of the coastal footpath adjoining the site; this statement must be prepared in consultation with the Wildlife Conservation Office of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Highways Division of the Department of Transport, and must include details of the timing of the works; and the works must be undertaken in accordance with the approved statement.
Approved the application
Do Not Oppose subject to imposition of conditions including method statement for safest haulage routes and demolition time period
Highway Division does not oppose the demolition subject to a method statement condition for safe haulage and demolition timing; Wildlife Officer raises advisory concerns about nesting birds, bats, and marine pollution risks; Port Erin Commissioners approve the application.
Key concern: small risk of polluted liquids flowing off site through sea-connected pipes causing marine pollution
Department of Transport Highway Division
Conditional No ObjectionDo Not Oppose subject to the imposition of the following conditions; A method statement is required prior to the commencement of the demolition works to ensure the safest haulage routes and demolition time period are used.
Conditions requested: A method statement is required prior to the commencement of the demolition works to ensure the safest haulage routes and demolition time period are used.
Wildlife and Conservation Division
No ObjectionI have looked at the outline method statement and see no problem with it.; I would not expect birds to be nesting but there can be occasional exceptions. I would just advise that if you find nesting birds or roosting bats please contact this office of the Department.; Be aware that if the tanks or any other drains are still connected to the sea by pipes there is a small risk of polluted liquids flowing off site through this route. This has the small potential to cause marine pollution.
Port Erin Commissioners
Supportthe application has been Approved.
The original application sought permission for demolition of west and south wings, redundant structures, and infilling of seawater ponds at the Marine Biological Station, with remedial works to retained buildings, following a survey identifying them as unfit due to corrosion and asbestos. The site is zoned for existing use amid open space and nature conservation areas. The inspector's assessment agreed with the planning officer that the buildings are in poor condition, lack architectural merit, and their removal would not harm visual amenity or future development potential. Conditions were recommended to protect wildlife and coastal footpath users. Permission was recommended subject to conditions.
Precedent Value
This appeal demonstrates that inspectors will accept professional surveys on building condition for demolition proposals, particularly where structures lack merit and harm character; future applicants should provide survey evidence and propose mitigation for adjacent sensitive areas like wildlife habitats.
Inspector: Andrew D Kirby
