DEC Officer Report

PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Application No.: 24/00002/D Applicant: Ms Rebecca Gelling Proposal: Installation of two illuminated signs Site Address: Manxonia House And Overcliffe The Promenade Port St Mary Isle Of Man IM9 5DA Planning Officer: Lucy Kinrade Photo Taken: 23.02.2024 Site Visit: 23.02.2024 Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 08.05.2024

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents. This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason.

By reason of their size, scale, siting and design both signs are considered to have no adverse visual or amenity harm to the public or public safety nor to adversely affect the existing building or the wider streetscene. The application is considered to accord with The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013, as well as meeting with the principles of General Policies 6 and 7 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016.

Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to the following:

• o Location Plan dwg no. 2101:01
• o Site Plan dwg no. 2101:23A
• o Supporting planning statement

• - date received 02/01/2024

• email from the agent dated 16/04/2024 o proposed signage details (wall and above door) o proposed south west and proposed north west elevations

• - date received and processed 17/04/2024

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons

None _____________________________________________________________________________

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 Site relates to Manxonia House and Overcliffe, Port St Mary.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 Proposed is the installation to two illuminated advertisement signs;

• o one circular sign above the existing doorway along Bay View Road with a 610mm diameter and an illuminated edge,
• o the other a rectangular box sign positioned on the Promenade elevation facing towards the fish shop opposite and nearest the corner junction. This sign to measure 2100mm wide x 1000mm tall and 100mm deep with internal illumination and cut lettering with the business logo.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 The building has recently been approved for its use as a mixed use space including tearoom and restaurant and including a variation of its opening hour conditions approved under 23/01196/B.

4.0 PLANNING POLICY - 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site lies within an area designated as Mixed Use on the Area Plan for the South. The site is within the proposed conservation area. - 4.2 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make it clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar. - 4.3 In addition to The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 we may also consider General Policies 6 and 7 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 and Environment Policy 37. These policies cover advertisements in both town and village centres, and in Conservation Areas.

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS Copies of representations received can be viewed on the government's website. This report contains summaries only. - 5.1 Port St Mary Commissioners - have been consulted but no comments received as of 08/05/2024. - 5.2 Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highway Services - No highways interest (12/01/2024).

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic,

• architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar. Further to this paragraph 6.6.2 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 makes clear that "within our towns and villages, well designed and sensitively sited advertisements can contribute positively to the character of a building or area, and can be of help to the general public. However, advertisements which are too bright, overlarge or poorly sited may endanger safety by distracting or confusing highway users and might, both individually and cumulatively, detract from amenity by being intrusive, by introducing clutter and visual confusion or by masking features of interest or attraction". Paragraph 6.6.3 furthers on this stating that "within rural areas, advertisements can be disruptive features which affect adversely the appearance of the landscape and the countryside. Lighting can pollute the night sky, and may be contrary to nature conservation interests". Environment Policy 37 states glossy and highly reflective materials are to be avoided and that projecting box and fascia signs excluded.
• 6.2 Both of the proposed signs relates to the users of the building and are acceptable in principle. The smaller sign above the door is internally illuminated is it fairly small scale and contained within a small area and so does not overwhelm or dominate the building or streetscene nor is it expected to create any distractions to highway users nor to negatively impact amenity of surrounding properties. This sign is considered acceptable.
• 6.3 There was concern raised initially in respect of the larger rectangular sign and the lack of clear detail as to its sign and illumination with the original submitted detail being somewhat conflicting. On the submission of revised detail the sign is indicated as being 2.1m wide x 1m tall and is to be internally illuminated with cut letters finished in a lighter colour to allow the light to diffuse. This sign is located on a stone wall and there was originally concern that the size in comparison to this specific corner of the building would be overwhelming and detracting from the overall historic quality of the building and adversely impact the wider streetscene. Generally internally illuminated box signs are to be avoided, however in this case the size, height and depth of the sign is fairly small scale and would not dominate the building. It would be large enough to display the business name without result in any adverse visual harm to the building or wider area and the level of illumination expected from the sign is considered to be acceptable and minded of the character of the immediate surrounding area being the centre of Port St Mary shopping street would not be at odds with nor result in any adverse amenity impacts given the established commercial nature where signage already exists as well as general street lighting levels.

7.0 CONCLUSION - 7.1 Overall it is considered that the size, scale, siting and design of the two signs would have no adverse visual or amenity harm to the public or public safety nor to the existing building or to the wider streetscene. The application would accord with The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013, as well as meeting with the principles of General Policies 6 and 7 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016. - 7.2 Given the village centre location it is not considered necessary in this instance to add a condition restricting the hours of illumination given the established nature of the surroundings and that any illumination at any time is not expected to impact highways or the amenity of adjacent business premises or surrounding environment.

8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• o The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• o Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material;
• o The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

• o the Highways, Ports and Railways divisions of the Department of Infrastructure.

8.2 The decision maker must determine:

• o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than those explicitly listed above) are material; and
• o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Acting Head of Development Management in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 10.05.2024 Determining officer

Signed : A MORGAN Abigail Morgan Acting Head of Development Management

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