Derbyhaven House Planning Statement

Derbyhaven House, Derbyhaven, Castletown, Isle of man Planning Statement

By Ashley Pettit Architects James Place Victoria Road Douglas Isle of Man IM2 4HD

Received 6 05 11 11 00733 DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING and BUILDING CONTROL Division Town and Country 1999 Materials

Derbyhaven House

This is a fine three storey stone house with well appointed bedrooms but restricted ground floor living accommodation Recent additions have added confused spaces with no aspect from the large kitchen. There is an uncomfortable link from the main house to the kitchen and the side addition which provides bathrooms to the two larger bedrooms is equally poorly planned. Externally the Walls are rendered with a textured finish intended to replicate stone.

Our initial brief was to re-plan the kitchen and extend the ground floor living space. Subsequently the client decided that the side addition should also be replaced and a new link formed to a redundant boat house at the front of the building. The challenge here was to selected an appropriate style for the front elevation of the side addition. The existing side addition had no merit other than familiarity.

The selection of planar glass allows the present stone house to be dominant and provides a very pleasant sitting room to the two bedrooms with views out to sea. The solid side wall avoid any overlooking of the adjacent house. The alternative may have been some vertical sash but there would have compromised the view and have unbalanced the house elevation.

The proposed house now has an extended ground floor plan in an open style with a separate reception and a side entrance on the frontage giving immediate access to the new living area and also a house gym. On the upper floors the house still enjoys extensive views without overlooking and has new bathrooms, dressing areas and private sitting rooms ensuring the original house retains it's character whilst providing modern accommodation.

The side addition is designed so it can be constructed and maintained without access from the flat roof of the adjoining property. No drainage or rainwater goods extend onto adjacent land (at present they do). The small high level window in the wall by the new entrance which lights part of the adjacent house in maintained with simple access from the lobby if required.

The client is pleased with the design and accepts that although the planar glass is an expensive option the overall effect would provide the views he wants and improve the quality of the house's appearance.

Front Elevation showing the original house with it's more recent Extension

Closer Inspection of the Front Elevation showing the stonework against the newer rendered side extension. The neighbouring property also has a window that needs to be taken into consideration for any design. Services for rain and foul water need context.

Georgian Style Front Elevation built in stone and placing an emphasis on the house as a single entity between two chimney breasts (see also previous photographs) making a direct replica extension seem out of context.

The Design of the extension is emphasised with the rear elevation where it is seen out of context and abutting the side window. Material contrast is also evident from the stone facade. The neighbouring rear wall is visible with no potential 'Over-looking' and the existing side wall of the existing extension is to be maintained to ensure a shared party wall remains intact between the joined properties.

The neighbouring property to the side will not be overlooked by the new glazed screen as the windows are angled away from each other and far apart. The extension of the Boat House maintains the same pitch line and stays at approximately the same level as the neighbouring property.

Glazed Sereens can exist within or abutting Traditonal Ocorrgan structures.