5 June 2019 · Delegated
Fern Glen, 70, Groudle Road, Onchan, Isle Of Man, IM3 2ez
The application sought approval in principle for a single detached dwelling with garage on the garden land of Fern Glen, 70 Groudle Road, Onchan. The site is a sloping lawned garden with public open space and Groudle Glen woodland to the north and east, and a public footpath running along its eastern and northern boundaries. The site carries a Low Density Housing in Parkland designation under the Onchan Local Plan, which sets strict requirements for plot size and development character in this sensitive landscape setting. The officer concluded that the principle of a new dwelling on this plot was unacceptable. The proposed development would fail to meet the requirements of Planning Circular 8/89 and Policy O/RES/P/4 of the Onchan Local Plan, and would result in adverse visual impact on the site and surrounding landscape. The location was also found to be an unsustainable form of development, contrary to Strategic Policy 10 and Transport Policy 1 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.
The application was refused on two grounds. First, the site's Low Density Housing in Parkland designation means development must meet the strict requirements of Planning Circular 8/89 and Policy O/RES/P/4; this proposal failed to do so and would cause adverse visual impact on the landscape. Second, the location was judged to be an unsustainable form of development, contrary to Strategic Policy 10 and Transport Policy 1 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.
Refusal Reasons
Onchan Local Plan 2000 - Land between Groudle Road and Groudle Glen
fail to meet the requirements of Planning Circular 8/89 and Policy O/RES/P/4 of the Onchan Local Plan
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
contrary to General Policy 2 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
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
Low Density Housing in Parkland
fail to meet the requirements of Planning Circular 8/89
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
contrary to Strategic Policy 10 & Transport Policy 1
Strategic Policy 10: New development should be located and designed such as to promote a more integrated transport network with the aim to: (a) minimise journeys, especially by private car; (b) make best use of public transport; (c) not adversely affect highway safety for all users, and (d) encourage pedestrian movement (1) Business Park is defined in Appendix 1 4.6 Social 4.6.1 The provision of an adequate supply of housing to meet the needs of the wider community is essential; this is in addition to the need to replace existing substandard or poor quality dwellings. Therefore;
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
contrary to Strategic Policy 10 & Transport Policy 1
Transport Policy 1: New development should, where possible, be located close to existing public transport facilities and routes, including pedestrian, cycle and rail routes.
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
New development in existing settlements must be designed to take account of the particular character and identity
pment. 8.13.2 The extent of formal open space with in settlement boundaries in the South is identified on the Proposals Map (Map 3) and Inset Maps (Maps 4-7). The Isle of Man Strategic Plan (Environment Policy 42) seeks to protect these open spaces and indicates that: 8.13.3 "Inappropriate backland development, and the removal of open or green spaces which contribute to the visual amenity and sense of place of a partic ular area will not be permitted.''
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
uch as this, the breaks in the urban fabric and the features of nature which provide a sense of openness should be protected from development which would erode this (see Maps 3 and 10). Natural Environment Proposal 4 (Green Gap) Between the settlements of Glen Vine and Crosby, development which would erode the separation and detract from the openness between the settlements is unlikely to be supported. Douglas, Union Mills and Strang (see Maps 3, 4 and 8) Natural Environment Proposal 5 (Green Gap) Between the settlements of and Douglas, Union Mills and Strang, development which would erode the separation and detract from the openness between the settlements is unlikely to be supported. The Upland Environment The Manx Uplands are an iconic part of our landscape and heritage. Reference to the 'sweet mountain air' and 'green hills and rocks' are enshrined in our national anthem and the colours of the heather and gorse are woven into the very fabric of Manx tartan. The hills are a place of great beauty, yet for some they are also a place to work and for others a place to exercise or simply enjoy open space. Our Uplands are also home to plants and animals that whilst familiar to us, are rare and impor tant in a global and European context. Furthermore, the uplands are a rich repository of cultural and archaeological remains, which are sensitive to change and can easily be damaged by inappropriate development. Production of food is an important and obvi ous function of hill land. But surprisingly, the Manx hills provide everyday functions that most people take for granted. Peatlands, which cover most of our hills reduce the impacts of climate change by locking up carbon dioxide, collect and filter our drinking water and slow the passage of rainfall into streams and rivers, thus reducing downstream flood risk. These multiple uses are of great benefit to the economy of the Isle of Man and the well - being of its people. It is important that the hills continue to provide these benefits long into the future. Ensuring sustainable management of such a wide range of uses to the satisfaction of all interested parties whilst retaining functions essential to the well -being of the Isle of Man is of paramount importance. The Isle of Man Government is the owner and landlord for the majority of the Uplands in the East region and is therefore in a position to implement policy which will deliver the optimum range of ecosystem services. Appropriate and positive Upland management such as controlled rotational burning/cutting of heather and low intensity grazing helps to reduce the fuel load of the hill, provides firebreaks and reduces the risk of unplanned wildfires that further protects the biodiversity of the site, but also the vast amounts of carbon locked away in the peat soils. The majority of this work is carried out by The Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture's grazing and shooting tenants. The Manx Uplands are critically important from a habitat and biodiversity perspective. The hills in the East support a significant number of breeding hen harriers; however, other native Upland breeding birds such as curlew and red grouse have suffered severe declines in recent decades and as such are of high conservation concern. Strict control of access and recreational activity on vulnerable soils should be implemented to reduce soil erosion and subsequent carbon loss. Curlew and hen harriers are recognised as an internationally important species, while (within the EU) upland heather moorland is designated as a priority habitat. In order to ensure protection and positive management of the Uplands, the following proposal is appropriate: Environment Proposal 6 Uses of the Uplands that contribute to the management and preservation of this distinctive environment will be supported. Dark Skies On the Isle of Man, 26 Dark Sky Discovery Sites have been identified, of which nine are located in the East. They are classified as Milky Way Sites meaning that at these sites the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. The sites are accessible and light pollution is limited. The following Dark Sky Discovery Sites are located within the East: • Port Soderick Upper Car Park • Port Soderick Brooghs, Little Ness Car Park • Mount Murray Golf Club • Onchan Park • West Baldwin Reservoir Car Park • Clypse Kerrowdhoo Reservoir Car Park • Conrhenny Car Park • Ballanette Nature Reserve • Axnfell Plantation Natural Environment Proposal 7 Proposals for development in the vicinity of Dark Sky Discovery Sites are to have minimal outdoor lighting and be encouraged to have a design response which is non-intrusive into the darkness of night. Baffling and directionality of lighting must be sensitive to contain any necessary lighting within a subject site only. Watercourses and Wetlands The collection of hills in the East has produced a network of mountain streams which gradually join and widen to become the rivers flowing out into Douglas Bay, Port Groudle a
Amendments to approved dwellings design on Plots 1a to 6a
Amendments to approved dwellings design on Plots 1a to 6a
Amendments to approved dwellings design on Plots 1a to 6a
Amendments to approved dwellings design on Plots 1a to 6a
Amendments to approved dwellings design on Plots 1a to 6a
Amendments to approved dwellings design on Plots 1a to 6a
Erection of six dwellings with access drives, landscaping and drainage works and creation of public footpaths
Erection of six dwellings in plots of at least one acre each, with access drives, landscaping and drainage works