DEC Officer Report

PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Application No.: 22/01495/B Applicant: Department Of Infrastructure, Public Estates And Housing Proposal: Refurbishment of existing high-level balustrading at flat roof level over arrivals and departure corridor, replacement of the old leaking flat roof coverings and the installation of a new fire escape staircase from roof level to ground level. Relocation of the existing staircase enclosure from behind the stair tower on Victoria Pier to in front of the stair tower, and the moving of the existing car parking spaces forward to avoid the new stair enclosure Site Address: Sea Terminal Victoria Pier Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2BX Planning Officer: Mr Peiran Shen Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 22.02.2023

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. This application is considered to comply with General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 35 of the Strategic Plan.

Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to the documents and drawing no. P-01 Rev A, P-02, P-03 which have been received on 12th December 2022. _______________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The site is the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, Peveril Square, Douglas.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the refurbish work of the enclosed travel corridor. The work includes reroofing, installation of fire escape staircase, relocation of existing staircase enclosure and relocation of some parking spaces.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 There is no previous application considered materially relevant to this application.

4.0 Planning Policy Site Specific - 4.1 The site is within an area designated as Maritime Gateway in the Area Plan for the East. - 4.2 The site is within the Douglas Promenade Conservation Area. Strategic Policy - 4.3 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains the following policies that are considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application:

• o Strategic Policy 3, 5
• o General Policy 2 (b), (c), (g), (m)
• o Environmental Policy 35
• o Community Policy 7, 10 and 11 PPS and NPD

4.3 Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man is the only adopted PPS at the moment. It provides supplementary policy on developments within any conservation area. - 5.0 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS Strategy and Guidance

5.1 There is no relevant strategy or guidance that directly applies to this application. - 6.0 REPRESENTATION

6.1 The Douglas Borough Council does not object to this application (30.12.2022).

6.2 DoI Highway Services does not oppose this application (03.1.2023). The comment states there is no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and/or parking. - 7.0 ASSESSMENT Elements of Assessment

7.1 The key considerations in the determination of the application are its impact on the character and appearance of the area.

7.2 The proposal is considered to preserve the character of the area as there is no major alteration to the structure, which itself is of modern feature and not readily visible from a public highway. - 8.0 CONCLUSION

8.1 The proposal is considered to comply with General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 35 of the Strategic Plan. Therefore, it is recommended for an approval. - 9.0 INTEREST PERSON STATUS

9.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf);
• (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure;
• (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (f) the local authority in whose district the land which the subject of the application is situated; and
• (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material. 9.2 The decision-maker must determine:

• o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and
• o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status.

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 27.02.2023 Determining officer

Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Principal Planner

Customer note This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.