4 December 2006 · Minister for Local Government and the Environment (following Planning Committee approval and dismissed appeal)
Malew Church, Path Leading To Malew Church From Malew Road, Great Meadow, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 4eb
The application proposed a single-storey flat-roofed extension (roughly 7m square with grassed roof, random rubble stone walls matching graveyard boundaries, and glazed link) to the rear of St. Lupus Church to provide an office, toilet, and access to the gallery.
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The officer and conservation officer assessed the proposals against the church's registrable quality and rural setting, finding the rear extension acceptable as it replaced existing stair access, used…
Time limit
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Approved plans
This permission relates to the extension of the Church, the erection of a Lych Gate and Churchyard Store, all as shown in drawings reference 35/01/01 to -05 inclusive, all received on the 22nd August 2006.
Materials matching
All stonework and roofing materials to be used in the new structures must be such as to match the existing materials of the nearest building. Within the Lych Gate, no concrete block shall remain exposed on any exterior or interior face of the building.
Details approval
No development shall take place until the details of the glazing of the proposed office, and the exposed timber and lighting for the Lych Gate have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Planning Authority, and the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Do not oppose the developments
recommends installation of mains wired interconnected domestic smoke detection
Underground cables/overhead lines present; contact for working practices and safety documents
Manx Electricity Authority raised no objection but requested contact regarding utilities; Malew Parish Commissioners objected to the store, lychgate, and extension due to heritage and character concerns; Fire and Rescue Service recommended smoke detection installation.
Key concern: Proposed store in the graveyard is out of keeping within a rural graveyard, and gives the impression of a crematorial building
Manx Electricity Authority
Conditional No ObjectionThere are Underground Cables/Overhead Lines present in the area indicated in you Planning Application. Please contact Anthony Kinrade or Ian Horsey... to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines which may be required to be diverted before any work can be carried out on site.; The Authority wish to express their interest in the following planning applications, and request that a condition of planning be that the applicant must contact the Authority.
Conditions requested: Applicant must contact the Authority (Anthony Kinrade or Ian Horsey, Tel. 687705) to discuss working practices around Cables and Overhead Lines which may be required to be diverted before any work can be carried out on site; Contact the M.E.A. for Electrical Site Safety 5 documents (Tel. 687766), before any work is carried out on site; All work to be carried out with reference to Health and Safety Executive Guidance Notes HS(G)47 & GS6
Malew Parish Commissioners
ObjectionThe proposed store in the graveyard is out of keeping within a rural graveyard, and gives the impression of a crematorial building in the middle of the countryside.; The Lychgate is out of keeping with the character and heritage of an old parish church, which could reasonably be expected to be a registered building.; The extension - toilet, office space, and disabled access - objected as the proposal offers a flat grassed roof and stone walls, which are inconsistent with the existing church building, and whitewashed walls.
Malew Parish Commissioners
ObjectionMalew Parish Commissioners wish to request an appeal against the decision to approve, on the grounds as stated by their previous objection.; The Commissioners feel that there is no other action available, as three issues were all contained within one planning application, and they have objections to two out of the three engineering and building works.
Malew Parish Commissioners
No CommentThe Commissioners wish to notify you that they would like to defer their decision, pending a meeting with the Members of the Parochial Church Council.
Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service
Conditional No ObjectionThe installation of mains wired, interconnected domestic smoke detection conforming to BS 5446 : Part 1 : 2000, and installed to conform with BS 5839 : Part 6 : 1995, is recommended in accordance with Section 1 of the Building Regulations 2000 – Approved Document B
Conditions requested: The installation of mains wired, interconnected domestic smoke detection conforming to BS 5446 : Part 1 : 2000, and installed to conform with BS 5839 : Part 6 : 1995, is recommended in accordance with Section 1 of the Building Regulations 2000 – Approved Document B
The original application for an extension to the rear of Malew Church, a lych gate, and a churchyard store was permitted by the Planning Authority on 01.12.2006. The Malew Parish Commissioners appealed against the lych gate and store, arguing they were discordant with the rural church setting and Registrable church. The applicant and Planning Committee defended the designs as appropriate, matching church materials, and functional for the active graveyard. The inspector found both designs acceptable given the church's heritage importance, accepted innovation in the store design, addressed material concerns via conditions, and recommended dismissing the appeal while upholding permission with clarified conditions on materials, glazing, timber, and lighting.
Precedent Value
Appeals can uphold innovative designs in heritage settings if functional, related to context, and supported by authority; material details must be precise to avoid ambiguity; public bodies' judgments on design merit carry weight.
Inspector: David Ward
