APL Support Statement

Planning Application for the additional use of Flat 3, Waverley House, Bay View Road, Port St Mary as Tourist Accommodation

Supporting Information Statement

Existing Site The application site consists of a one-bedroom first floor flat within Waverley House, a Victorian property in Bay View Road, Port St Mary. The flat consists of a hallway, lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Waverley House was converted in approximately the 1980s into four separate flats and is situated on the corner of Bay View Road and Victoria Road.

• Flat 1 already has tourist accomodation planning permission. Flat 2 is owned by a retired couple who manage the rental of Flat 1 (and will do the same for Flat 3 should this application be successful). Flats 3 and 4 are owned by the applicant. The ground floor is occupied by Studio 42 Art Gallery and there is no access between this commercial property and any of the residential flats.

Flats 1 and 2 are accessed via a shared entrance off Victoria Road, whilst Flats 3 and 4 share an entrance off Bay View Road between Studio 42 Picture Framing and Gallery, and the Sugar Loaf Cafe.

The Sugar Loaf cafe next door offers three single rooms above it as tourist accommodation (“The Carrick Rooms”), accessed via an entrance immediately adjacent to the Waverley House Bay View Road entrance. (See photos).

Both flats 3 and 4 are owned by the applicant, Mr Robert Brunsdon, a UK resident who uses Flat 4 (on the second floor) as personal accommodation when visiting the island. Flat 3 (first floor) is presently used as tourist accommodation for the Manx TT and the MGP under the Homestay scheme, but is otherwise only used to accommodate, free of charge, family and friends who are visiting the island.

Applicant’s Statement The Manx Government wishes to encourage high quality tourist accommodation to bolster the economy of the island, as laid out in the Visit Isle of Man and Department for Enterprise “Policy on the Development of Non-Serviced Accommodation” 2019-2023 (2019).

The applicant, although a UK resident, spends several weeks a year on the Isle of Man and wishes to contribute to the island’s economy.

He, along with the retired Manx couple who live in Flat 2, have refurbished Flat 3 to a high standard. The bathroom has been completely refitted and the applicant has also redecorated and carpeted the entrance, hallway and stairs at his own expense (they are owned by Fistard Property Investments) so as to give a consistent feel to the building as a whole. If change of use is granted, the flat’s rentals and the day-to-day running of the property will be managed by the occupants of

• Flat 2 as a source of additional income.

Scheme Proposals This application seeks full planning approval for the additional use of the Flat 3 residential property for tourist use on a short-term rental basis. This will provide accommodation for up to three people. There will be no adverse impact on Highway safety as any vehicles used by guests can be accommodated at the public car parks at the Promenade, approximately 100m away, and further along Bay View Road in the vicinity of St Mary’s Church. There is also a communal rear yard to the property that may be utilised for the off-road parking of motorcycles.

The applicant has spoken with the occupants of the other flats as well as the owners of both neighbouring properties (Studio 42 and the Sugar Loaf), and Fistard Property Investments, and they have confirmed they have no objections to the proposals. Indeed, there is already a provisional agreement between the applicant and the owner of the Sugar Loaf cafe to provide discounted services to guests, to mutual benefit.