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Case Officer: Mr S Moore Photo Taken: Site Visit: Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation
THE SITE:
The site represents the interior of St German's Cathedral, Peel a Registered Building (RB 204), located within the Peel Conservation Area designated in 1990.
PLANNING HISTORY:
11/00024/CON - Registered Building Consent for creation of landscaping scheme including the erection of an electricity sub station, replica keeill and hermits cell, and bus shelter lay- by (RB No 204 in association with 11/00023 GB). Application Permitted
11/00023 GB - Creation of landscaping scheme including the erection of an electricity sub station, replica keeill and hermits cell, and bus shelter lay- by (In association with 11/00024 CON). Application Permitted
10/01641/CON - Registered Building consent for internal alterations to the South Clergy Vestry, electrical re-wiring and installation of lighting scheme to the main body of the Cathedral and installation of kitchen facilities to the North Transept. Registered Building Nos. 204 - Application Permitted
10/00676/CON - Registered Building consent for the installation of a Nave Organ, double ending all pews in aisles to make them movable. Registered Building Nos. 204 - Application Permitted
09/00726/D - Erection of two notice boards (in association with 09/00725/CON) Registered Building Nos. 204 St German's Cathedral, Derby Road, Peel. IM5 1HH. Application Permitted
09/00725/CON - Registered Building Consent for internal alterations and erection of external notice boards (in association with 09/00726/D) Registered Building Nos. 204 St German's Cathedral, Derby Road, Peel. IM5 1HH. Application Permitted
08/00848/CON - Registered Building consent to erect a dwelling within grounds of (In association with 08/00822/GB) Registered Building Nos. 204 St German's Cathedral, Derby Road, Peel. IM5 1HH. Application Refused.
| Application No.: | 12/00417/CON |
| Applicant: | The Very Revd Nigel Philip Godfrey |
| Proposal: | Registered Building consent for the removal of pews (Registered Building Nos. 204) |
| Site Address: | St German's Cathedral Derby Road Peel Isle Of Man IM5 1HH |
08/00822/GB - Erection of a dwelling within grounds of St German's Cathedral, Derby Road, Peel. IM5 1HH. Application Refused.
05/01502/GB - Alterations to north entrance, introduction of paving setts, forming new steps and disabled ramp, relocation of car parking (with additional spaces and landscaping) and relocation of lamp post and flag pole (amendments to approved 02/00692) (in association with 05/01502 CON). Application Permitted
05/01502/CON - Alterations to north entrance, introduction of paving setts, forming new steps and disabled ramp, relocation of car parking (with additional spaces and landscaping) and relocation of lamp post and flag pole (amendments to approved 02/00692) (in association with 05/01502 GB). Application Permitted
02/00692/B - Replacement of tarmac with concrete setts and widening of drive and access, area outside main public entrance of St German's Cathedral, Peel. Application Permitted
00/02069/B - Widening of access between Corrin Hall and St German's Cathedral, Peel. Application Permitted 92/00366/B - Alterations to Flower Room and Vestry, St German's Cathedral, Peel. Application Permitted 89/00149/B - Siting of 10m flagpole, grounds of St German's Cathedral, Peel. Application Permitted
PROPOSALS:
Proposed is the removal of the pews from the North and South aisles to create a multifunctional space.
REPRESENTATIONS:
Peel Town Commissioners recommend refusal of the application, but do not substantiate the reasons for the recommendation to refuse.
ASSESSMENT:
As the Cathedral is Registered Building (RB 204) and located within the Peel Conservation Area designated in 1990, the content of this application has been considered with particular regard to RB/3: GENERAL CRITERIA APPLIED IN CONSIDERING REGISTERED BUILDING APPLICATIONS, POLICY RB/5 ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS as set out within Planning Policy Statement 1/01- Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man in tandem with Environment Policy 32 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 (20th June 2007).
However, as the works are to the interior only of the Registered Building, policy and Policy CA/2 SPECIAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS as set out within Planning Policy Statement 1/01- Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man and Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 (20th June 2007) are not considered relevant to the consideration of this application.
"Planning Policy Statement 1/01 RB/3: General Criteria Applied in Considering Registered Building Applications
The issues that are generally relevant to the consideration of all registered building applications are:
In considering whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting and in considering whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses.
Registered Building consent is required for the building's alteration in any way which would affect its special architectural or historic character. There will be a general presumption against alteration or extension of registered buildings, except where a convincing case can be made, against the criteria set out in this section, for such proposals.
Applicants for registered building consent for alteration or extension to a registered building must be able to justify their proposals. They will be required to show why the works which would affect the character of the registered building are desirable or necessary and they should provide full information to enable the Department to assess the likely impact of their proposals on the special architectural or historic interest of the building and on its setting. Where registered buildings are the subject of successive applications for alteration or extension, consideration will also be given to the cumulative affect upon the building's special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence."
"Extensions or alterations to a Registered Building which would affect detrimentally its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest will not be permitted."
This application is part of the substantial alterations that are planned for the Cathedral over the forthcoming years and is justified by the applicant as a desire to 'create a much more multi-functional space in the Cathedral'.
The removal of the pews comes as a response to the desire for churches to be more flexible in terms of the way in which they may be used and is a relatively common occurrence in churches throughout the UK. This is an approach that has been sought in other churches across the Island. An obvious part of the consideration of this application is the pews themselves and the impact that they have on the character of the Cathedral. The pews themselves are of limited historic and architectural interest, being a relatively generic Victorian pattern. The dark colour of the pews matches with the dark stained timber that forms the roof structure and in doing so, the colour and regular format of the pews offer regimentation to the views along the side aisles of the Cathedral.
There is little doubt, that the removal of the pews will alter the character of the Registered Building, but this is offset against the need and desire to ensure a continued use for the
building, an important consideration in any application of this sort. Had the building been older, the quality of the pews been better, such as the 'box pews' found in a Georgian church, then this application might not be acceptable. However, on balance, whilst it is considered that the removal of the pews will have an impact on the character of the Registered Building; it is considered that that impact will not be detrimental.
RECOMMENDATION:
Permit.
PARTY STATUS:
I consider that the following meet the criteria of Government Circular 1/06 and should be afforded interested party status:
Peel Town Commissioners
Recommended Decision: Permitted
Date of Recommendation: 04.06.2012
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal
C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
C 2. This approval relates to the following drawn information, all dated 19/3/12:
A3 sheet - Site and Location Plan scale 1:1000 A4 sheet - St. German's Cathedral Seating Plan – Proposed (diagrammatic) Removal of pews in Aisles. A4 Photo Print - 'Views of Pews in North Aisle'. A4 Photo Print - 'Views of Pews in South Aisle'. A4 Photo Print - 'Side view of Pew as in North + South Aisles'. A4 Photo Print - 'Front view of Pew as in North + South Aisles'.
I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control / Development Control Manager/ Senior Planning Officer.
Decision Made : Permitted Date : 13/8/12
Signed : ... Anthony Holmes Senior Planning Officer
Signed : ... Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control
Signed : ... Jennifer Chance Development Control Manager
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