30 May 2012 · Committee
Victoria Buildings, Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1ax
This application sought permission to convert the former snooker hall and bar at Victoria Buildings, Parliament Street, Ramsey into self-contained apartments, along with a rear extension to create an additional apartment. The proposal was an amendment to an earlier planning permission (06/00391/B). The amendments changed the upper-floor layout: the left-hand side of the second and third floor plans was altered from one existing maisonette to two 3-bedroom apartments, and the rear third-floor extension was revised from providing two apartments to providing one 2-bedroom apartment. The building also contains a gymnasium and existing residential apartments on the upper floors, above two ground-floor shop units. The application was decided by Committee and permitted on 30 May 2012, in line with the officer's recommendation to approve.
The application was permitted by Committee on 30 May 2012. The officer recommended approval. The proposal involved amendments to an earlier permission, adjusting the layout of upper-floor apartments and adding a rear third-floor extension to create one additional apartment.
Upper Floors
Policy R/TC/P3 Upper Floors of Planning Circular 2/99
on, it is considered that residential use on upper floors of commercial buildings should continue to be permitted in order to assist in the buildings' maintenance and refurbishment (reference: Policy R/TC/P3). ## Traffic Management
General Policy 2
Isle of Man Strategic Plan (20th June 2007)
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
Housing Policy 17
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Housing Policy 17: The conversion of buildings into flats will generally be permitted in residential areas provided that: (a) adequate space can be provided for clothes -drying, refuse storage, general amenity, and, if practical, car-parking; (b) the flats created will have a pleasant clear outlook, particularly from the principal rooms and (c) if possible, this involves the creation of parking on site or as part of an overall traffic management strategy for the area. 8.13.4 In recent years, interest has grown in the development of residential dwellings from redundant commercial space, primarily above shops. In the United Kingdom, inspira tion for such development came from the LOTS initiative (Living Over The Shop) started in 1989 and the FOS programme (Flats Over the Shop), set up in 1991. The Department generally supports the conversion of redundant storage space above shops (which are often outside of residential areas), into residential development unless the occupants would suffer adverse noise, general disturbance or loss of residential amenity from other land uses. 8.14 Loss of Housing 8.14.1 In the current housing situation, the Department is concerned to ensure that there is no unwarranted loss of existing housing which is fit for habitation or could be made so at reasonable cost.
