Officer Report

Application No.: 16/00583/CON Applicant: Aalish Ltd Proposal: Registered Building consent for alterations, renovation of front yard area, provision of flat roof over existing void and creation of a new access (in association with 16/00582/GB) Registered Building Nos. 93 Site Address: 4 Finch Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2PT Case Officer : Miss Abigail Morgan Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE APPLICATION SITE - 1.1 The site is no 4 Finch Road, Douglas a two storey, painted render office building. No. 4 is a Registered Building (RB 93). It has been registered since 1987. - 1.2 The buildings along this row were registered more for their architectural significance rather than their historical occupation.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 This application seeks Registered Building Consent 16/00583/CON for the following works (Planning approval is being sought under PA 16/00582/B);

• o Erection of flat roof over existing void to the left hand side of the property;
• o Form new access in existing wall to access void for maintenance purposes;
• o Installation of new wrought iron gate to match existing railings;
• o Renew front yard concrete surface;
• o Repair broken step;
• o Repair/replace rotten timber plinths to door and columns - all coloured to match existing;
• o Alteration to front gate - raise bottom rail by apx 50mm to ensure that it will open over resurfaced yard.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 There are two current applications, 16/00599/GB and 16/00600/CON for demolition of front are side wall and replace with cast iron matching railings. These two are being considered concurrently with these applications along with the planning application for the current works. - 3.2 There are three previous applications for this property all relating to the car park to the rear of the premises which were approved. They are not considered relevant to the consideration of this application.

4.0 PLANNING STATUS - 4.1 The site lies within an area designated on the Douglas Local Plan (1998) as 'Predominantly Offices'. - 4.2 As 4 Finch Road, Douglas is a Registered Building (RB 93) and the works proposed in this application affect a registered building, the relevant planning policies from the Isle of Man Strategic

• Plan 2016 are Strategic Policy 4, General Policy 2, Environment Policies 32 and 34 and Policies RB/3 and RB/5 from Planning Policy Statement 1/01 (Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man) is also considered to be relevant to determining this application.
• 4.3 General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan contains some relevant elements. These extracts read: 'Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development:

• (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them;
• (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape;

• (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality;
• (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space'.

4.4 Environment Policy 32 states: "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." - 4.5 Environment Policy 34 states: "In the maintenance, alteration or extensions of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred." - 4.6 Policy RB/5 - Alterations and Extensions states: "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 effect upon the building's special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence."

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Douglas Borough Council, no objections. 27.07.16.

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The main issues are considered to be the impact on the Registered Building and the wider street scene. - 6.2 The proposals in these applications are essentially works that will improve and enhance the front of the building and provide access to the side where there are currently access issues for maintenance. They are part of wider proposals to maintain and improve the building. - 6.3 The proposed flat roof would not be visible from the front of the property and is therefore not considered to detrimentally affect the Registered Building. The proposed access gate into this area

• is proposed to fit with the railings. The rest of the works are repairs/improvements that are sensitive to its character, which will maintain its physical fabric or allow its physical fabric to be maintained.
• 6.4 In conclusion, the works proposed in this application are considered to respect the character of the Registered Building and in doing so, comply with Strategic Policy 4, General Policy 2, Environment Policies 32 and 34 and Policies RB/3 and RB/5 from Planning Policy Statement 1/01.
• 6.5 There are also two other applications being considered 16/00599 & 600, which when considered together with these applications, the cumulative effect upon the building's special interest is considered to be minor and not detrimentally affect the building.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION - 7.1 On the basis of the above the application is recommended for approval.

8.0 PARTY STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013, the following 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;
• (c) Manx National Heritage; and
• (d) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 06.09.2016 Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

• C 1. The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent.

Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents.

• C 2. No works shall take place until full details of the proposed iron gate including 1:20 scale sample elevations and 1:1 scale profiles of the finials have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The works shall be implemented in strict accordance with the agreed details and retained as such thereafter.

Reason: As insufficient information has been submitted, to ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building and to comply with Environment Policy 32 of the Strategic Plan 2016.

• C 3. The gate shown on the approved plans shall be painted black within one month of installation and shall be retained as such thereafter. Reason: To ensure the satisfactory preservation of this registered building.

This approval relates to Location Plan, Site Plan and Drawings 4466/P1 A and 4466/Ex 1 all date stamped received 20 May 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: 12.09.2016 Determining officer

Signed : S CORLETT Sarah Corlett Senior Planning Officer

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