30 January 2018 · Committee
Shop, Orchard Street, Port Erin, Isle Of Man, IM9 6aj
The application sought permission to change the use of a single-storey flat-roofed commercial unit on Orchard Road, Port Erin — most recently a pharmacy — into a funeral directors, with associated alterations including widening of the rear garage access. The site sits in the commercial heart of Port Erin, linking Church Road and Station Road, but is not on the main retail frontage. The key planning question was whether a funeral directors is an appropriate use in this location. The officer concluded that such services are valuable to local communities and are commonly provided discreetly within town and village centres, as is already the case in Onchan and Ramsey. Placing the use in a settlement centre was judged preferable to a residential location, where the movement of customers, staff, and vehicles could cause greater harm. The frontage was to be subtly finished, with window vinyls providing decoration rather than prominent signage, and hearses would not pass frequently enough to be considered inappropriate.
The committee was satisfied that a funeral directors is a legitimate and discreet village centre use, no more intrusive than comparable facilities elsewhere on the Isle of Man. The subtle frontage treatment, infrequent hearse movements, and unchanged or reduced highway impact all supported approval. Locating the use in the settlement centre was considered preferable to a residential alternative.
General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan
General Policy 2: Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption. 6.3 Development outside of areas zoned for development
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
