12 April 2016 · Delegated
2nd Floor Office, Kermode House, 74, Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1aq
This application sought permission to convert the second-floor office accommodation at Kermode House, 74 Parliament Street, Ramsey into a residential apartment. The floor space involved is approximately 125.5 square metres, situated on the top floor of a modern three-storey end-of-terrace building at the junction of Parliament Street and Christian Street. The application was decided by delegated authority and was permitted on 12 April 2016. The officer recommended approval, having considered the main planning issues of whether the location was suitable for residential use, the quality of amenity that future occupiers would experience, and parking. The site is not within a Conservation Area, and there is a relevant planning history reference on record for the site.
The application was permitted on 12 April 2016 under delegated authority. The officer recommended approval, and the key planning issues considered were the suitability of the location for residential use, the amenity of future occupiers, and parking provision.
Upper floors
The use of upper floors as retail units, offices and apartments shall be encouraged particularly where premises are currently vacant
on, it is considered that residential use on upper floors of commercial buildings should continue to be permitted in order to assist in the buildings' maintenance and refurbishment (reference: Policy R/TC/P3). ## Traffic Management
Ramsey Local Plan Policy R/R/P4
The upper floors above shops are often under-used. Use of this space for residential purposes will be encouraged, subject to compliance with the Housing (Flats) Regulations.
3.15 Policy R/R/P4: Use Of Upper Floors For Residential Purposes The upper floors above shops are often under-used. Use of this space for residential purposes will be encouraged, subject to compliance with the Housing (Flats) Regulations. Change of use from residential to office use will not generally be permitted.
Housing Policy 17
Housing Policy 17: The conversion of buildings into flats will generally be permitted in residential areas provided that: (a) adequate space can be provided for clothes -drying, refuse storage, general amenity, and, if practical, car-parking; (b) the flats created will have a pleasant clear outlook, particularly from the principal rooms and (c) if possible, this involves the creation of parking on site or as part of an overall traffic management strategy for the area. 8.13.4 In recent years, interest has grown in the development of residential dwellings from redundant commercial space, primarily above shops. In the United Kingdom, inspira tion for such development came from the LOTS initiative (Living Over The Shop) started in 1989 and the FOS programme (Flats Over the Shop), set up in 1991. The Department generally supports the conversion of redundant storage space above shops (which are often outside of residential areas), into residential development unless the occupants would suffer adverse noise, general disturbance or loss of residential amenity from other land uses. 8.14 Loss of Housing 8.14.1 In the current housing situation, the Department is concerned to ensure that there is no unwarranted loss of existing housing which is fit for habitation or could be made so at reasonable cost.
