Officer Report

Application No.: 25/00622/D Applicant: Gee Tee Signs Ltd Proposal: Removal of existing signage and replacement with permanent illuminated sign Site Address: 52 Strand Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2EL Principal Planner: Chris Balmer Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 29.07.2025 _________________________________________________________________

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.

The proposal is considered to comply with General Policy 2 and General Policy 6 of the Strategic Plan and Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 2013 having no adverse visual impact upon the streetscene or upon highway safety.

Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to the submitted documents and drawing all received on 27.06.2025. _________________________________________________________________ Interested Person Status None _________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The property 52 Strand Street, Douglas, is a three storey terraced property which runs along the eastern side of Strand Street, north of Howard Street.

- 2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 The application seeks approval for the removal of existing signage and replacement with permanent illuminated sign. The style of the light is a box styled signage, similar to the existing which is illuminated from within and advertising the shop "H.Samuel".

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 The previous planning applications associated with this site, however only the following are considered relevant in the determination of this application; - 3.2 Installation of illuminated advertising signage - 06/00600/D - APPROVED - 3.3 Installation of a new shopfront, and fascia - 06/00599/B - APPROVED - 3.4 Erection of advertising signage - 98/01455/D - APPROVED - 3.5 Erection of a double-sided illuminated projecting box sign - 85/00269/D - APPROVED - 3.6 Erection of a single-sided, illuminated fascia sign - 85/00500/D - APPROVED

4.0 DEVELOPMENT PLAN POLICIES - 4.1 The application site is within an area designated as "Mixed Use Proposals Areas - Strand Street" under the Area plan for the East. The site is not within a Conservation Area. - 4.2 Strategic Policy

• 4.2.1 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains the following policies that are considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application:

• o General Policy 2; 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 it meets the relevant criteria of (a) to (n). In this case (b) (g) (i) (m) (n) are considered most relevant relating to character and highway safety.
• o General Policy 6; the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they:
• o (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed;
• o (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and
• o (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard.
• o General Policy 7; the display of external advertisements on sites or buildings other than those to which they relate will not generally be permitted.

4.3 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS Legislation

• 4.3.1 Regulation 5 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 2013 states that the control of advertisement is only in the interest of amenity and public safety, in particular general characteristics of the locality, the safety of any person who may use the highway and potential obscuration of any traffic sign or signals.

5.0 CONSULTATIONS - 5.1 Douglas Borough Council have no objection (17.07.2025).

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 The key considerations in the determination of the application are its impact on the building itself and on the character and street scene of the area.

6.2 The proposed illuminated signage is simplistic. As there is a variety of signage along the street, it is considered that it would not negatively impact the character of the building or the streetscene. The content is also directly related to the business. Therefore, the design is considered acceptable. - 6.3 As Highway Services does not object to this proposal, it is considered that there is no impact on highway safety.

7.0 CONCLUSION - 7.1 The proposal is considered to comply with General Policy 2 and General Policy 6 of the Strategic Plan and Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 2013 having no adverse visual impact upon the streetscene or upon highway safety. Therefore, it is recommended for an approval.

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

• (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
• (c) Persons to whom notice has been given under regulation 10(3)(a)(i)
• (d) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material;
• (e) The Highways Division of the Department;
• (f) The Ports Division of the Department;
• (g) The operator of the railway or tramway; and
• (h) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

8.2 In addition to those above, the Regulation 11(3) requires the Department to decide which persons (if any) who have made representations with respect to the application, should be treated as having sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application to take part in any subsequent proceedings relating to the application. - 8.3 The Department of Environment Food and Agriculture is responsible for the determination of planning applications. As a result, where officers within the Department make

comments in a professional capacity they cannot be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner 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 and/or rights to appeal.

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 30.07.2025 Determining Officer Signed : J SINGLETON Jason Singleton Principal Planner

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