14 June 2012 · Delegated
Prasline, Grenaby Road, Ballabeg, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 4hd
Planning permission was sought for alterations and an extension to a single-storey detached bungalow at Ballavarkish Beg, Grenaby Road, Ballabeg, Castletown. The application was refused by a Senior Planning Officer on 14 June 2012. The decision notice identified two clear reasons for refusal. The proposed first-floor accommodation was considered tantamount to creating a new dwelling in the countryside in an area not designated for development, contrary to Isle of Man Strategic Plan policies aimed at protecting the Manx countryside and directing new housing to sustainable locations. Additionally, the scale, height, and design of the extension, situated close to a public highway, would result in a noticeably larger dwelling with an increased visual presence in the countryside, which was also found to be contrary to the Strategic Plan.
The application was refused on two grounds. First, the first-floor accommodation was judged to be effectively a new dwelling in the countryside, in an area not designated for residential development, conflicting with policies protecting the Manx countryside and directing housing to sustainable locations. Second, the extension's size, height, and design close to a public highway would make the dwelling noticeably larger and more visually prominent in the countryside.
Refusal Reasons
The countryside and its ecology will be protected for its own sake
extension of non-traditional dwellings
Housing Policy 16: The extension of non -traditional dwellings or those of poor or inappropriate form will not generally be permitted where this would increase the impact of the building as viewed by the public. 8.13 Conversion of Buildings to Flats 8.13.1 There are in the Island, and particularly in Douglas, many substantial buildings which, because of their size or form, are no longer suitable for the originally intended use as either single dwellings or holiday accommodation, but which are still structur ally sound. The Department has for many years encouraged the conversion of such buildings, where appropriate, into flats. 8.13.2 The size, layout, occupancy, etc., of flats are controlled by the Housing (Flats) Regulations 1982. However, all flats should also have a good external environment, characterised by - (a) a pleasant, clear outlook, particularly from the principal room(s) of the flat and (b) access to external space for the purpose of clothes-drying, refuse storage, car-parking, and general amenity. 8.13.3 Many buildings which are generally suitable for conversion into flats not only have very little space around them, but also have an annex or "outlet" at the rear. The Department may require the demolition, in total or in part, of such "outlets" even where the immediate use of the cleared space may not be possible, for example where more than one rear annex may be needed to be removed to gain access or highway work such as road widening may be required to make the cleared space useful. Such demolition will: (a) remove accommodation which has a poor environment and limited outlook; (b) permit the creation of parking space; and (c) assist in admitting light and air to the rear of the building proper. Where such demolition is not so required, the accommodation must generally be organised so that every flat has an outlook from the front of the building, and so that no flat is contained entirely within an "outlet". Exception may be made to this general approach where the environment at, and the outlook from, the rear are pleasant and open.
Conversion of existing integral garage to additional living accommodation
relevant
Alterations and extensions to existing bungalow
relevant
Alterations and extensions to existing bungalow
relevant
Alterations and extensions to dwelling
relevant
Removal of agricultural workers tie on existing dwelling
relevant
