Officer Report

Application No.: 18/00259/C Applicant: Margaretta Limited Proposal: Additional use of residential property as self catering tourist accommodation Site Address: Church Farmhouse Great Meadow Castletown Isle Of Man IM9 4EB Case Officer : Miss S E Corlett Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 16.04.2018 _________________________________________________________________

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 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This decision relates to drawings P/10-00, P/10-01 and P/10-02 all received on 12th and 13th March, 2018. _______________________________________________________________ Interested Person Status – Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The site is the residential curtilage of an existing detached dwelling which sits on the eastern side of Malew Road (A3) opposite Great Meadow mansion house and to the west of Church Farm. Access to the property is shared with the farm and lies to the north of the

curtilage. The dwelling is a two storey property with a detached garage to the east. The site has mature trees along its western boundary, screening the majority of the house from public view.

THE PROPOSAL

2.1 Proposed is the use of the dwelling and curtilage for tourist as well as residential accommodation. No changes are made to the building or the site. The dwelling accommodates five bedrooms, one of which is on the ground floor. PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 The site lies within an area designated on the Area Plan for the South as not for a particular purpose. As such, there is a presumption against development. The Strategic Plan contains advice about the use of rural premises for tourist accommodation as follows: - 4.4.4 The development of tourism should be fostered by making appropriate use of the Island's natural attractions, our built heritage and our vintage transport systems. Accordingly:

Strategic Policy 8: "Tourist development proposals will generally be permitted where they make use of existing built fabric of interest and quality, where they do not affect adversely environmental, agricultural, or highway interests and where they enable enjoyment of our natural and manmade attractions."

Business Policy 11: "Tourism development must be in accordance with the sustainable development objectives of this plan; policies and designations which seek to protect the countryside from development will be applied to tourist development with as much weight as they are to other types of development. Within the rural areas there may be situations where existing rural buildings could be used for tourist use and Environment Policy 16 sets out the circumstances where this may be permitted."

"9.5.8 The use of existing private residential properties as tourist accommodation may be acceptable if it can be demonstrated that it will not compromise the amenities of any neighbouring residents."

• Business Policy 13: "Permission will generally be given for the use of private residential properties as tourist accommodation providing that it can be demonstrated that such use would not compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents."
• Business Policy 14: "Tourism development may be permitted in rural areas provided that it complies with the policies in the Plan. Farmhouse accommodation or quality self-catering units in barn conversions and making use of rural activities will be encouraged but must comply with General Policy 3 and Business Policies 11 and 12. Other forms of quality accommodation in rural areas will be considered, including the provision of hostels and similar accommodation suitable for walkers but must comply with General Policy 3 and Business Policies 11 and 12."

3.2 No new building is proposed and the tourist use would be in addition to the residential use. As such, of the above, Business Policy 13 is the most relevant. PLANNING HISTORY - 4.1 The property has been the subject of a number of applications for alterations and extensions, none of which is particularly relevant to the consideration of the current proposal. REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Malew Parish Commissioners raise no objection (06.04.18) and Department of Infrastructure Highway Services indicate that there would be no change in vehicular movements and do not oppose (06.04.18).

• ASSESSMENT
• 6.1 The detached and rural nature of the property will significantly reduce the potential for any impact on those in neighbouring properties to the point that this is not considered an issue. The location is a good one for visitors, being close to the historic centre of Castletown and all of its attractions as well as near to the Great Meadow Mansion House, Billown Mansion House, the Dolls House and other architecturally interesting properties. CONCLUSION
• 7.1 The property would usefully add to the stock of interesting and attractive tourist accommodation on the Island, in accordance with BP 13 and is supported. INTERESTED PERSON STATUS
• 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013 (Article 6(4), the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
• (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material
• (d) Highway Services Division of Department of Infrastructure and
• (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated. 8.2 The decision-maker must determine:

• * whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and
• * whether there are other persons to those listed in Article 6(4) who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Head of Development Management in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 27.04.2018 Determining officer

Signed : S BUTLER Stephen Butler Head of Development Management

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