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From: Digit Isle Designs To: Porter, Vanessa Subject: RE: PA25/90981/B - Salt Wood, Shore Road Underway Date: 23 February 2026 08:02:02
Hi Vanessa,
This is an existing building, and this proposal does not alter the form, scale, massing, roofline or fenestration. The proposed changes are limited to external finish only. The appearance of the front elevation is currently split between artificial stone to one half and cladding to the other. For the existing cladding, the proposed changes to the overall appearance are like for like, other than the colour difference. The proposed changes to the stonework are to match the other half of the property. The cladding to the front of the property already exists, therefore we are not proposing to introduce new typology.
The existing timber cladding is weathered and has deteriorated over time, being subjected to prolonged exposure to wind, salt spray and UV conditions, in this coastal location. The artificial stonework has a heavier load on the structure and potential for cracking over time, with additional risk of water ingress and freeze-thaw damage. High quality composite cladding is known to generally perform better long term, not just compared to timber cladding, but to artificial stonework too.
The proposed lightweight and non-porous composite cladding has been chosen for its durability and resistance to marine conditions of sea and strong winds. It provides high resistance to salt corrosion and moisture ingress, as well as providing UV stability, preventing fading and allowing for reduced maintenance requirements and extended lifespan. This will ultimately be more practical, sustainable and safer within this coastal environment.
The choice of a black composite finish will provide a consistent appearance over time, avoiding the uneven fading and patchiness associated with painted timber and lighter colours. By choosing this low maintenance material with a longer lifecycle, this in fact promotes environmental sustainability through reduced repainting, reduced material waste, and improved resilience in a coastal environment.
Black and dark finishes are commonly used in contemporary coastal architecture to allow buildings to sit quietly within open coastal landscapes. This property is very popular with ‘Island Escapes’ and this proposal will enhance the properties visual quality. The idea of the high quality, black, composite cladding finish is to allow for this property to remain contemporary, however to in fact appear subtle, with its understated, non-vibrant coastal palette, rather than appear dominant. The black tone is a neutral colour and does not compete strongly with landscape features such as the hills/vegetation, sea or sky. The black matte surface will absorb light, compared to lighter, reflective and more intrusive surfaces, therefore reducing glare and also reducing overall visual prominence. Particularly from a distance across the bay, this darker finish will visually recede against the coastal backdrop and changing light conditions, and will actually merge and blend more easily into the shadow and natural surroundings. Due to this, this
proposal will not disrupt key views or the wider coastal setting.
Although the property adjacent is a registered building with Manx stonework, the existing stone cladding to ‘Salt Wood’ is not necessarily contributing positively to the setting of the registered building, and rather sits as an imitation of historic style, without being genuinely historic and authentic, therefore creating visual confusion. In fact, the contrast of the black cladding, similar as proposed and approved to the other side of the registered building (to 22 Shore Road Underway (planning application ref: 20/00989/B)), will further clarify and enhance the registered building, rather than compete with it. Further to this, the presence of the existing balcony and large windows/doors, actually reduces the importance and dominance of the stonework finish of ‘Salt Wood’ anyway.
Kind regards
Dawn
From: Porter, Vanessa <[email protected]> Sent: 19 February 2026 16:07 To: Dawn <[email protected]> Subject: PA25/90981/B - Salt Wood, Shore Road Underway
Good Afternoon,
I hope you are well,
I am writing to you as the officer in charge of the above application, having done a site visit, please could you inform me on why black composite cladding was decided as the best option, with specific emphasis on the black, and how this meets Environment Policy 42, which seeks that development must be designed to take account of the particular character and identify in terms of buildings and landscape features of the immediate locality.
Many Thanks
Nessy
Mrs Vanessa Porter Planning Officer Planning & Building Control Directorate Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture (DEFA) Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2SF
Tel: (01624) 685870 e-mail: [email protected]
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