26 March 2007 · Director of Planning and Building Control (M. I. McCauley) under delegated authority per Article 3(13) of Town and Country (Development Procedure) Order 2005
Ballaveg, Main Road, Ballaugh, Isle Of Man, IM7 5ef
The proposal involved removing part of the 1.2m high stone Manx front boundary wall with 1.5m pillars at Ballaveg, a two-storey terraced dwelling in a row on Main Road, Ballaugh, to form vehicular access and hardstanding parking in the front garden solely for the applicant's motorbike.
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The officer identified the key issue as the impact on the character and appearance of the street scene, where most properties retain traditional 1.2m high stone Manx walls with pillars fronting Main R…
Do not oppose
Multiple neighbouring residents and Ballaugh Parish Commissioners submitted objections to the planning application, citing highway safety risks and detrimental impact on the traditional character of the village streetscape.
Key concern: highway safety risks from insufficient parking space and manoeuvring onto busy main road
Ballaugh Parish Commissioners
ObjectionThe existing front walls of these properties are traditional low Manx stone walls and to remove one of them would spoil the whole character of the area in the centre of the village.
The original application sought removal of part of the front Manx wall to create vehicular (motorcycle) access to the small paved front garden of a terraced house in Ballaugh. It was refused on grounds of adversely affecting the character and appearance of the street scene. The appellant argued the wall was demolished due to instability from shrub roots and that the access was needed for motorcycle parking after reallocating rear garage space to another property. The planning authority, parish, and third parties objected on visual amenity, character, and road safety grounds. The inspector found the wall demolition created an unattractive gap in the unified terrace frontage, outweighing any benefits, and dismissed the appeal despite no significant highways concerns.
Precedent Value
This appeal demonstrates that removal of characteristic front boundary walls in village settings will be resisted to protect street scene uniformity, even for minor uses like motorcycle access. Applicants must demonstrate public benefit outweighing amenity loss and consider less harmful alternatives like gates.
Inspector: Michael Hurley
