Officer Report

Application No.: 16/00959/C Applicant: Isle Of Man Post Office Proposal: Temporary change of use of ground floor to office use for the scanning of documents Site Address: Douglas Post Office Regent Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2EA Case Officer : Miss Lucy Kinrade Photo Taken: 07.09.2016 Site Visit: 07.09.2016 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report THE SITE

1.1 The application site represents the existing curtilage of Regent Street Post Office in Douglas. The building was originally constructed in 1886 and has a distinctive Victorian style orange-red brick exterior with terracotta and sandstone elements. - 1.2 The existing ground floor of the building is currently used for public retail as a Post Office and associated shop at the front of the building and general office and storage space not accessible to the public at the rear parts of the building. THE PROPOSAL

2.1 The planning application seeks the approval for the temporary change of use from Class 1 of Schedule 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development Order 2012), to Class 4. - 2.2 The temporary change use from a post office to an office use for the scanning of documents is proposed to take place between 01/10/2016 - 30/06/2018. PLANNING HISTORY

3.1 There have been several previous planning applications approved for the site, these included alterations to the internal and external premises for refurbishment, formation of a front access, removal of a chimney stack and the erection of a satellite dish. - 3.2 It is noted that there is also one ongoing planning application for the site. PA 16/00909/B was submitted at the start of August 2016 which proposes the demolition of the existing building, with the retention of the front façade and side walls only, and the construction of new two storey retail units. The application also proposes alterations to front facade at ground floor level to provide access and windows suitable for retail purposes. This application is still under consideration. PLANNING POLICIES

4.1 The application site is located within an area designated as 'Predominantly Shopping Use' in the Douglas Local Plan Order 1998, Map No. 1 (Central Area). The site is not located within a Conservation Area, but it is adjacent to the Douglas Promenades Conservation Area. The relevant planning policies from the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2012 to consider when assessing the application are Business Policy 7 and Environment Policy 36. Business Policy 7:

New office floor space should be located within town and village centres on land which is zoned for the purpose on the appropriate area plan; exceptionally, permission may be given for new office space

• (a) on approved Business Parks for Corporate Headquarters which do not involve day to day callers; or
• (b) in buildings of acknowledged architectural or historic interest for which office use represents the only or most appropriate practicable and economic way of securing future use, renovation and maintenance.

Environment Policy 36: Where development is proposed outside of, but close to, the boundary of a Conservation Area, this will only be permitted where it will not detrimentally affect important views into and out of the Conservation Area.

REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 The Department of Infrastructure have stated that there is no highways interest in the current planning application (02/09/16).

5.2 Douglas Borough Council have no objection to the current planning application (19/09/2016). ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The existing building is designated in an area of 'Predominately Shopping' in under the Douglas Local Plan Order 1998, the proposed temporary change of use from retail to office for the purpose of scanning documents is not considered to cause any detrimental impact on the retail and shopping aspect of the town centre.

6.2 Business Policy 7 explains that "new office floor space should be located within town and village centres on land which is zoned for the purpose on the appropriate area plan", the proposal, albeit not new office floor space, shall be within the town centre and as such is expected to benefit the local retail economy.

6.3 The adjacent surrounding area of the application site is designated for various uses, 'predominantly shopping', 'predominately tourism', 'predominantly offices' and public and proposed open spaces. The temporary change of use from retail to office space is not deemed to be out of context for the surrounding area nor is it expected to impact the amenity of the area. The building has previously been used as a post office, the proposed use as office space is not expected to alter the movement of people in and out of the building or in the local area nor for this to cause any adverse impacts on the character of the area. - 6.4 There are no proposed alterations to the external elements of the building and there are no proposed alterations to the interior other than the alternative uses of the existing rooms and spaces. This shall ensure that there are no impacts on the adjacent Conservation Area in compliance with EP36. - 6.5 The proposed time frame of temporary use from 01/10/2016 until 30/06/2018 is considered acceptable, if it becomes evident that the use during this time is detrimental to the building and the area the temporary aspect of the application allows for the previous use as retail can be re-instated. This can be actioned through an attached condition. - 6.6 Overall the use of the space for the purpose of scanning documents is not detrimental to the existing building, to the amenity of the public or to the surrounding area and is not to affect the adjacent Conservation Area.

RECOMMENDATION

7.1 The application complies with the relevant policies of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 and is recommended for approval. PARTY STATUS

8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, 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, in this case The Department of Infrastructure; (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word 'Department' to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 30.09.2016 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

C 1. The temporary change of use hereby approved is only be permitted between 01/10/2016 and 30/06/2018. From 01/07/2018 the application site shall return to its previous use as a Class 1 of Schedule 4 of the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development Order 2012).

Reason: In interest of the existing building and amenity of the local area, whereby any detrimental impacts of an office use can be reverted back to retail use as stated in use Class 1.

This approval relates to drawing numbers P-01, P-02 and P-03 all date stamped and received 12/08/2016.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Senior Planning Officer in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 12.10.2016 Determining officer

Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Senior Planning Officer

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