2 May 2012 · Committee
1 Sabrew, Main Road, Sulby, Isle Of Man, IM7 2hf
This application sought permission to demolish an attached garage and outbuilding at Sabrew, Main Road, Sulby, divide the existing plot to create a new building plot, erect a new dwelling, and provide parking and hardstanding for both the existing and proposed properties. The Planning Committee refused the application on 2 May 2012, despite the case officer recommending approval. The committee found that the proposal did not achieve the required visibility splays of 2 metres by 90 metres at the access, which is the recognised highway safety standard. Because the access arrangements were considered unsafe, the application was judged to be unacceptable on highway safety grounds.
The Planning Committee refused this application. The sole stated reason was that the proposal did not provide adequate visibility splays meeting the required highway safety standard of 2 metres by 90 metres, making the access arrangement unsafe. This conflicted with the officer's recommendation to approve.
Refusal Reasons
Spatial Policy 4
Strategic Policy 3
Strategic Policy 3: Proposals for development must ensure that the individual character of our towns and villages is protected or enhanced by: (a) avoiding coalescence and maintaining adequate physical separation between settlements; and (b) having regard in the design of new development to th e use of local materials and character. 4.3.4 Most of our built heritage, our countryside, our coastline and our natural environment is of attraction, value and interest. Surveys commissioned by Government on the quality of life and the importance of heritage in the Isle of Man and internationally, have consistently shown that the historic landscape setting of the Isle of Man scores as t he single most significant factor for residents and visitors in supporting the concept of a specific and positive Manx identity. This "heritage identity" is a result of the combination of a rich diversity of historic sites and monuments, historic building s and residential settlements and a specific range of natural history attributes set within a predominantly rural landscape setting which links modern life to a sense of historic legacy and beauty, the retention of which is strongly supported by Government and the resident community. 4.3.5 The landscapes of the Island are very varied, and their nature and variety is the consequence of thousands of years of interaction between the natural and cultural aspects of the Island through human activity within the enviro nment and an innate respect for the natural and historic qualities they represent. 4.3.6 This landscape heritage is more than simply the sum of its parts. The combination of geology, geomorphology, wildlife, archaeology, history, traditional buildings and the natural settings for traditional activities and customs, combine in the rural and built environment to provide an inseparable element of "Manxness". It provides an overarching context which makes the landscapes of the Isle of Man unique and gives them the value which is acknowledged by those who live here and those who visit. The protection and promotion of this element within Manx society is an important element in central Government policy and the Strategic Plan, which both support the view that these v alued characteristics of the Isle of Man be acknowledged and protected for the future from inappropriate development. 4.3.7 This protection will apply to areas of heritage value, to sites of heritage value and to general traditional landscape settings within the Island which are deemed to contribute to the sense of the Island's heritage identity. Heritage landscape value will therefore be a consideration in all aspects of planning, with a view to retaining and enhancing this value wherever possible.
Environment Policy 42
New development in existing settlements must be designed to take account of the particular character and identity
pment. 8.13.2 The extent of formal open space with in settlement boundaries in the South is identified on the Proposals Map (Map 3) and Inset Maps (Maps 4-7). The Isle of Man Strategic Plan (Environment Policy 42) seeks to protect these open spaces and indicates that: 8.13.3 "Inappropriate backland development, and the removal of open or green spaces which contribute to the visual amenity and sense of place of a partic ular area will not be permitted.''
Manx Roads 1
