19 September 2017 · Committee
Unity Dance School, Switzerland Road, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 4ng
The application sought to convert the former Gospel Hall — a building with substantial hardstanding around it, located at the inside of a hairpin bend near the end of Switzerland Road — into a dance studio. No external works were proposed, so the key planning issues were the impact of the new use on neighbouring residents and highway safety in a predominantly residential area. Officers assessed noise from dance lessons and the potential for parking and traffic to affect nearby residents. The existing hardstanding was judged sufficient to accommodate the likely number of cars visiting at any one time, and the cul-de-sac location means any low-level congestion would have limited effect on the wider highway network. To protect residential amenity, the approval was tied to specific operating hours — Tuesday to Thursday afternoons and evenings, and Saturday mornings only — and the use was formally restricted to a dance studio. The Planning Committee approved the application in line with the officer recommendation.
The proposal was acceptable because the existing hardstanding provided adequate parking, the cul-de-sac setting limited any highway impact, and no external changes were needed. Conditions restricting operating hours and limiting the use to a dance studio were imposed to protect neighbouring residents from noise and disturbance, and to ensure any future change in use or hours would require fresh consideration.
Development (including the change of use of existing premises) which results in the loss of a local community facility (other than shops and public houses) will only be permitted if it can be demonstrated that it is no longer practical or desirable to use the facility for its existing use or another use likely to benefit the local community.
Community Policy 3: Development (including the change of use of existing premises) which results in the loss of a local community facility (other than shops and public houses) will only be permitted if it can be demonstrated that it is no longer practical or desirable to use the facility for its existing use or another use likely to benefit the local community. 10.8 Retention of Existing Local Shops and Public Houses The loss of facilities such as neighbourhood shops in towns and or village shops and public houses reduces customer choice and can also necessitate people travelling further to meet their needs. This is a particular problem in rural areas where village sh ops, post offices and public houses can be central to village life. It would be preferable to retain viable facilities, or those that can be made viable and where a change of use or re -development is proposed developers will be expected to show evidence o f attempts to market the property as a business in these areas.
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Condition 2
For the avoidance of doubt, the use hereby approved shall be limited to that of a dance studio.
