15 September 2016 · Delegated
Corlett & Bolton, 4, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 2pt
Permission was granted for the demolition of a side wall to the front area of 4 Finch Road, Douglas, and its replacement with cast iron railings to match those already on the front boundary. The application was made by Aalish Limited and decided under delegated authority. The property is a two-storey painted render office building and a Registered Building, noted for its architectural rather than historical significance. The front of the building features a yard enclosed by side walls and front railings with a degree of symmetry. The planning officer concluded that, while removal of such a feature would not normally be encouraged, the wall in question was fairly nondescript and reducing pillars near accesses is characteristic of the surrounding area. The replacement railings would maintain the character of the frontage, and the change would also improve sightlines when leaving the rear car park.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture approved the application on 15 September 2016. The key planning consideration was balancing any impact on the Registered Building and the wider street scene against the benefit of improved visibility when exiting the rear car park. The proposal was found acceptable on those grounds. The formal decision record lists 3 conditions.
RB/3 General Criteria Applied in Considering Registered Building Applications
Policies RB/3 and RB/5 from Planning Policy Statement 1/01
POLICY RB/3 General criteria applied in considering registered building applications The issues that are generally relevant to the consideration of all registered building applications are:- • The importance of the building, its intrinsic architectural and historic interest and rarity, relative to the Island as a whole and within the local context; • The particular physical features of the building (which may include its design, plan, materials or location) which justify its inclusion in the register; descriptions annexed to the entry in the register may draw attention to features of particular interest or value, but they are not exhaustive and other features of importance, (e.g. Interiors, murals, hidden fireplaces) may come to light after the building's entry in the register; • The building's setting and its contribution to the local scene, which may be very important, e.g. Where it forms an element in a group, park, garden or other townscape or landscape, or where it shares particular architectural forms or details with other buildings nearby (including other registered buildings).
Alterations and Extensions
POLICY RB/5 ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS 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 affect upon the building's special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence.
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Condition 2
No works shall take place until full details of the proposed iron railings 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.
Condition 3
The railings shown on the approved plans shall be painted black within one month of installation and shall be retained as such thereafter.
alterations, renovation of front yard area and erection of flat roof over a small yard/void and creation of a new access into yard/void
being considered concurrently with these applications
alterations, renovation of front yard area and erection of flat roof over a small yard/void and creation of a new access into yard/void
being considered concurrently with these applications
