Consultation 2 Highway Response

Planning Application Response

Email: [email protected] Officer: MB

Date of Response: 05/02/19 Date of Application: 21/12/18 Application Reference: 18/01312/B Location: Garage In Rear Of Brunswick Road Lane Brunswick Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 3NW Description: Construction of new detached garage to replace existing

Highway Comments: The proposed garage would have a slightly different footprint to the existing garage to be demolished. The 'Manual for Manx Roads' (MfMR) design guide requires a single garage space to be at least 3m x 6m with a 2.4m wide garage door (or 4.2m wide double door) to be counted as a parking space. The existing garage is 5.4m wide which is narrower than the 6m minimum standard for a double garage space. It has a length of 6m and both doors are 2.4m wide.

The proposed garage would be 5.5m wide which is slightly wider than the present garage with a 4.4m wide double door. The proposed garage length is only 5.4m long which is below the MfMR standard of 6m and shorter than the existing garage length. The proposed garage should therefore be lengthened to 6m, and preferably increased in width to 6m. There is adequate space in front of the garage to accommodate a further parked car for both the existing and proposed site layouts.

The site access arrangements would not change although a new 2m high boundary fence is proposed along one side of the site. This may adversely affect highway visibility for vehicles exiting the garage site but is unknown as the site photos provided do not show the existing boundary treatment. There is a high wall on the opposite side of the site which would be retained and restricts visibility. The road adjacent to the site is a narrow back street that is only wide enough for single file traffic and should be subject to a low level of traffic and low vehicle speeds, particularly as the site is near a cul-de-sac end. On this basis, the potential effect of the proposed high site boundary treatment is not deemed sufficient to warrant a highway safety objection.

Summary

Highway Services oppose the application as the proposed garage is below MfMR standards and smaller than the existing garage it is to replace.

Recommendation: O