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30 Athol Street Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1JB
Planning & Building Control Directorate Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas IM1 2SF
Dear Sirs
Applicant: Linnia Investments Limited
Proposal: Demolition of two single storey shops at 62 & 64 Strand Street and erection of a retail store at 62, 64 & 66 Strand Street
Site Address: 62–66 Strand Street, Douglas, IM1 2EE
The applicant seeks to replace two existing shops and a small cleared site, with a new retail unit on Strand Street in Douglas.
The site extends over 62, 64 & 66 Strand Street.
62 Strand Street comprises a small single storey unit which is temporarily occupied as a menswear shop.
64 Strand Street comprises a small vacant single storey unit which was previously occupied by Homestores, who have moved to larger premises at 25 Strand Street. The property is in poor condition and needs a new roof.
66 Strand Street comprises a cleared site which was previously the site of a Chinese take-away. The small single storey structure became unsafe and was demolished when the adjoining properties 68-72 Strand Street were redeveloped as the new TopShop.
The applicant seeks approval for the demolition of the two remaining single storey shops and the construction of a new retail building planned on two floors.
The building will provide retail floor space at ground level and retail, and or, storage accommodation at first floor level, the division depending on the occupier's requirements.
The proposed building will have a modern design, with the front elevation featuring a glazed frontage at both ground floor and first floor levels.
The glazing frames will be coloured aluminium (grey). The remainder of the front facade
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will be finished in composite cladding panels. The rear walls in painted smooth render. The roof will be flat and will have a parapet wall around it.
The elevation facing onto the rear service lane will have roller security shutter doors at the bin area and at the rear loading access.
Linnia Investments Limited is a property investment company, based at 30 Athol Street, Douglas. The company has been trading for some 25 years and has acquired a working knowledge of the requirements of retailers in the local market. Linnia Investments Limited owns and manages other properties in the area, including 27 Strand Street (occupied by Mountain Warehouse) and 29-31 Strand Street (occupied by Superdrug).
The company has not yet found an occupier for the proposed development but will proceed, subject to planning, with the scheme on a speculative basis, taking the view that a good quality property will attract a good quality retailer.
The applicant believes that the new shop, if approved, will support the proposals for the regeneration of Douglas town centre. The proposed design and layout is similar to those of other shops which have been redeveloped to meet current retailing requirements, such as, Monsoon, River Island and TopShop.
The modern design of the adjoining TopShop frontage has added to the vitality of this part of Strand Street, incorporating an atrium behind a fully glazed frontage covering the whole of the ground and first floors. The design appears to be ideal for a fashion retailer promoting a strong brand.
The development at 62-66 Strand Street continues the fully glazed theme, but provides a masonry and glass facade which does not copy, but will sit well alongside the larger, TopShop store.
The combination of framed double height glazing and masonry on two floors has been used extensively, with great success, in major regeneration schemes at Liverpool One and Newport's Friars Walk.
The proposed design will allow views into the shop at both ground and first floor level, adding to the vitality to the area which will be even more interesting in the darker times of the year, when the shop's lighting will make a substantial contribution to the illumination of the area.
Yours faithfully
M T Chapman (Director)
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