24 June 2008 · Delegated - Senior Planning Officer Mrs F Mullen
6, Sydney Street, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 3jb
The site is the rear garden/annex area of an end-of-terrace three-storey Victorian property at 6 Sydney Street in a residential area of Douglas, involving demolition of an existing annex and construction of a new detached dwelling measuring 10.5m long, 5.7m wide, 8.3m ridge height, with rendered walls, timber-clad outr…
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The officer assessed five main issues: street scene impact, amenity for future occupiers, neighbour amenity at Nos 5 and 6 Sydney Street, Oxford Street impacts, and highway safety/parking.
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect locality character. Officer found the detached form obtrusive in terraced Victorian street with no similar precedents nearby, causing significant harm to street scene visual amenities.
Housing Policy 6
Requires residential development per area plan or para 6.2 criteria, encouraging good design. Breached by design/siting harming neighbour amenity at No.6 and inadequate private space failing living standards.
Environment Policy 42
New development must reflect local character/identity; no inappropriate backland or removal of green spaces contributing to amenity. Detached backland dwelling harmed street scene and was inappropriate infill.
Transport Policy 7
Requires parking per standards, relaxable in town centre sites considering location/size/amenities. One space accepted for 2-bed dwelling near shops/bus due to public transport access and no added on-street demand.
Multiple objections from residents association, individual residents, Highways Division, Douglas Borough Council, and Fire Service to planning application 08/00691/B for erection of a detached dwelling at 6 Sydney Street, Douglas, citing parking issues, visual impact, character incompatibility, and fire safety concerns.
Key concern: Means of Escape from upper floor inherently unsafe
Oxford Street/Sydney Street Residents Association incorporating Dalton Street and Auckland Grove
Objectionthe application and more specifically the site plan is completely inadequate and does not give a true and honest picture; complete over-use of the site, gives very limited free space in the form of the open space requirement and total square metres as per the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 1999; create an increase in on-street parking in an area where on-street parking is already at a premium and therefore would be in breach of Transport Policy No 7; would detrimentally affect the important views into and out of the Conservation Area; No 6 Sydney Street was originally built as an end of terrace house with a large garden and it should retain its Victorian character
Deb Lowe
ObjectionThe proposed new property would not blend in well with the surrounding area and therefore be out of keeping with the general locality; The proposed new property would not be of a sufficient size to provide adequate living conditions for the new occupants
Manx Electricity Authority
Conditional No ObjectionContact the M.E.A. Planning Department (Tel. 687781), to discuss the electricity supply for this application.
Conditions requested: applicant must contact the Authority
Isle of Man Water Authority
Conditional No ObjectionFor single connections to a water main (i.e. a single dwelling) the applicant should contact IoMWA Customer Services, tel. 69 59 49
Conditions requested: applicant must contact the Authority to ensure that a connection is obtained for water supply purposes
Highways Division
ObjectionOppose | The new dwelling does not meet the strategic plan
Douglas Borough Council Public Works Committee
Objectionthe committee agreed to raise an objection on the grounds that the proposals would exacerbate the already difficult parking in the area
Isle of Man Fire And Rescue Service
ObjectionMeans of Escape from upper floor inherently unsafe Recommend Refusal
