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The application site is Unit 4 Hills Meadow, and industrial unit situated within Hills Meadow Industrial Estate. The unit is part of a larger block of units.
This application seeks approval for the additional use of part of the premises to provide a cafe facility. A plan included within the submission shows the internal layout of the mezzanine floor of the unit identifying that approximately half is used as retail space, around a quarter as warehouse space and the remaining quarter would be divided up to provide a cafe area, office/store and stairs to the ground floor.
A more detailed plan shows the layout of the cafe area which has a work surface containing two sinks, a fridge freezer and a serving counter. There is also a seating area for customers.
An accompanying letter from the applicant sets out that the total area of the premises is 288 sq.m with the ground floor providing 192 sq.m and the upstairs measuring 96 sq.m. The cafe area measures 27 sq.m. It is stated that the shop is staffed by 1 person with another serving in the cafe area however as business increases additional staff will likely be required to work in the retail side of
the business. Opening hours are 8am until 8pm Monday to Saturday and 10am until 5pm on Sunday. The cafe would operate from 8am until 4pm Monday to Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sundays. The intention of providing a cafe facility is stated as being to give an incentive fro customers to come to the store and purchase goods and be able to have something to eat whilst waiting for materials to be loaded or for timber to be cut to size.
The application site is located within an area identified as being Light Industrial by the Douglas Local Plan.
The following previous planning application is considered relevant to the determination of this proposal:
10/01324/C Change of use of units 1 and 2 from light industrial or storage/distribution purposes to part storage/distribution and part sales of automotive products and industrial parts. Permitted.
The Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure does not oppose this application.
Douglas Corporation does not object this application.
The main issues to be assessed in the determination of this application are the principle of the proposed use in an area that is designated for Light Industrial use and highway impacts.
The cafe would area would form approximately 10% of the floor area of the unit and as such it is reasonable to describe the cafe as a subordinate part of the main use of the building. The position of the cafe at first floor level would also serve to underline its use as an ancillary function of the unit. It is important to note however that if the cafe was to increase in scale, this would begin to undermine the character of the industrial estate.
The Highways Division has responded to this application stating that the additional use would not have any adverse traffic management, parking or road safety implications and as such it does not oppose this proposal.
At the level proposed, it is judged that the additional use of part of the building to provide a cafe facility is acceptable.
Permit.
It is considered that the following parties, who submitted comments, accord with the requirements of Planning Circular 1/06 and are therefore, afforded Interested Party Status:
Douglas Corporation
Accordingly the following parties are not granted Interested Party Status:
The Highways Division and the Planning Authority are both part of the Department of Infrastructure. As such, the Highways Division cannot be afforded Interested Party Status.
C: Conditions for approval N: Notes attached to conditions R: Reasons for refusal O: Notes attached to refusals
C 1. The use must be taken up within four years of the date of this notice in order for this approval to remain valid after that time.
C 2. This approval relates to the additional use of premises to provide cafe facility (retrospective), Unit 4 Hills Meadow Industrial Estate, Douglas as shown by Location Plan, Floor Plans and Support Letter received 6th July 2011.
N 1. For the avoidance of doubt, this approval relates to the additional use of the premises to provide a cafe facility at the level shown by the floor plans submitted on the 6th July 2011. Any increase in the floor area of the cafe facility would fall outside of this approval and would require a further planning application to be submitted to the Planning Authority.
I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control / Development Control Manager.
Decision Made : Permitted Date: 11/8/11
Signed: Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control Delete as appropriate
Signed: Jannnee Jennifer Chance Development Control Manager
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