DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 19/01377/B Applicant: Mrs Linda Galloway Proposal: Blocking up of existing entrance door Site Address: Grianagh Curragh Road St Johns Isle Of Man IM4 3LN Principal Planner: Miss S E Corlett Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 13.01.2020 _________________________________________________________________

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 the drawings and information received on 9th December 2019. _______________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The site is the residential curtilage of an existing dwelling which sits directly onto the Curragh Road (A3). The property is, at first glance, a traditional Manx cottage but it has a large monopitch roofed extension to the north with a large horizontally proportioned window at ground floor level and a similar, slightly smaller window on the main part of the house on the other side of a pitched roofed porch. At the side the lean-to extension continues to add a modern feel to the property.

1.2 The dwelling is semi-detached, the other half being more traditional and without the modern side elevation or windows. To the south of this is a modern property with its gable facing the road. THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the blocking up of the front door and the installation of a meter box within the open porch. The applicant explains that access to this front porch is limited and since the addition of the side extension, most callers use the side entrance. PLANNING POLICY - 3.1 The site lies within an area designated on the 1982 Development Plan Order as an area owned by the Government and not for a particular purpose within a wider area of High Landscape Value and Scenic Significance.

3.2 There is therefore a presumption against development but this is generally not directed at alterations to existing property which do not attract additional floorspace. There are no specific policies which advise on the alterations of existing property. PLANNING HISTORY - 4.1 There are no previous applications of any note. REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Highway Services have no interest in the application (23.12.19). ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The single issue in this case is whether the works would have an adverse impact on the character or appearance of the property sufficient to warrant refusal of the application.

6.2 The retention of the door would undoubtedly preserve the character of the property. However, given the alterations which have already been undertaken to the property, the relatively modern proportions of the porch and the fact that the door to be removed is blocked off, the proposal is considered to have only a minor impact on the character of the property. Passers by are generally passing at speed in vehicles although it would be possible to appreciate the change if passing on foot. However, what is proposed is not considered to be so adverse as to warrant refusal. CONCLUSION - 7.1 The proposal is considered to be acceptable 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:

• 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 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 : 16.01.2020 Determining officer

Signed : S BUTLER Stephen Butler Head of Development Management

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.