6 September 2017 · Delegated
Parking Space, Murrays Lake Drive, Mount Murray, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM4 2ja
This application sought permission to create four parking spaces with a tarmac finish on a piece of grassed land alongside the private estate road serving Murray's Lake Drive, Mount Murray, in the parish of Braddan. The land sits between the front of number 63 and the rear of numbers 51 and 52, and was not set out for any particular purpose at the time of the application. The officer's report noted that the surrounding area is characterised by expanses of grass separating communal parking areas, and that there is a significant amount of on-street parking in the vicinity, with many houses lacking their own onsite spaces. The application was permitted by delegated decision on 6 September 2017, consistent with the officer's recommendation to approve.
The application was permitted by delegated decision on 6 September 2017. The officer recommended approval, and the final decision matched that recommendation. The site was an unequipped grassed area with no specific existing use, making it suitable for conversion to parking.
area for Tourist Accommodation in Parkland
The site lies within an area for Tourist Accommodation in Parkland on 1982p.
General Policy 2
the relevant Strategic Plan policies are those which require that development has no adverse impact on highway safety, the character of the area or the living conditions of those in nearby residential property - General Policy 2
General Policy 2: 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: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (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; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (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; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption. 6.3 Development outside of areas zoned for development
Transport Policy 6
the needs of pedestrians will be given the same weight as those of other road users (Transport Policy 6)
Transport Policy 6: In the design of new development and transport facilities the needs of pedestrians will be given similar weight to the needs of other road users. 11.5. Car Parking 11.5.1 The level of car parking provided in new development is critical to creating more sustainable development. Too little and the traffic generated can create problems on adjacent streets. Too much can increase congestion and delay public transport. The problem is most severe in existing settlements and at its worst in the Douglas area. 11.5.2 In respect of town centre office development, it has been the Department's usual practice to require the provision of one parking space per 50sq metres of nett office floor space, such parking spaces to be provided preferably on site but otherwise conveniently close to the site. The standard of 1 space per 50sq metres is based on: 1/3 staff walking or cycling: 1/3 travelling by public transport and 1/3 by private car. This provision is very often rather less than the demand created by the development. In the case of office developments outside of the town centre, the requirement is usually one parking space per 15sq metres of nett office floor space, a ratio which reflects more accurately the actual demand for parking space arising from the office use. The Douglas Local Plan did in fact invite consideration of other options whereby either the requirement should be increased such as to meet fully the demand for parking space, or the requirement should be reduced so that, with proper enforcement of on-street parking restrictions, fewer workers would come into town by car. 11.5.3 The long term target is to reduce the level of car parking required for town centre developments and seek to develop more sustainable staff and visitor transport plans including improved public transport, staff buses, shared and pooled cars, cycling and walking. Consideration should be given to the provision of cycle parking for staff and customers in non -residential development and to the provision of secure cycle stores in apartments. In the shorter term, the Department proposes the following general policy in respect of parking provision.
