Comment 4 5 Abbey Woods Douglas

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5, THE ABBE WOODS, DOUGLAS, IA 2 S PL 06th August 2025 PLANNING REF: 25/90648/C - 11 THE ABBEY WOODS DOUGLAS

RE: OBJECTION

Dear Ms. Fettis

Please accept this letter as our objection to the above planning application for change of use from domestic accommodation to tourist accommodation.

We gather the application has been submitted in order to rent a portion of an existing dwelling, long term. We are concerned that this change of use application will have further reaching potential beyond the immediate private rental arrangement sought through the application.

After considering the application we make the following points:

1. Under the Town and Country Planning (Change of Use) (Development) (No. 2) Order 2019 as amended in 2025, a change of use from Class 3.3 (dwellinghouse) to Class 3.6 (self-contained tourist unit) is not permitted unless the property is located within an area designated in the relevant local development plan as residential or predominantly residential.

1. We would question the need for a change of use to tourist accommodation given that long term residential letting does not require planning approval.

1. An application for change of use to tourist accommodation was submitted for No 4 The Abbey Woods, and withdrawn under ref: 95/01164/C. We gather the application was facing a refusal.

1. The property is located in a well established residential area, it is approximately 2.5km away from the promenade, common hospitality zones and areas of tourist accommodation.

1. The application is granted would result in the loss of residential amenity within in a predominantly residential enclave, detracting from the residential character.

1. If further tourist accommodation applications were granted, planners may be unable to prevent the cumulative change in character over a period of time.

1. The change of use would allow unfettered tourist accommodation including Air B&B, short term letts, overnight stays, pedestrian only guests and more.

1. Potentially this could affect the area through the sale of the tourist accommodation to a third party outside of the immediate area, raising further concerns about upkeep & quality of residential character.

1. The road access to No 11 is by way of a cul-de-sac road without a public footpath.

1. The vehicular access to the property is via a steep narrow road with impinged forward sight distance at the corner due to existing mature overhanging trees.
2. We would suggest that an increase in pedestrian traffic using the cul-de-sac would be ill advised given that pedestrians are forced to use the road. Vehicular traffic is currently mainly through residents who are familiar with the area. Adding pedestrians who are not, could be considered hazardous.
3. As there will be no specific type of tourist accommodation specified there will be an invitation to people who have no vested interest in the area to visit. The potential for minor crime, antisocial behaviour, nuisance noise, loud late-night parties, litter, damage to property and neighbouring properties could become an issue. Noisy late night pedestrians returning to their accommodation through the cul-de-sac road also become a traffic nuisance.
4. The neighbourhood has a number of elderly residents who have a neighbourhood watch scheme in place. This is based on passive or natural surveillance and relies on locals being able to identify regular visitors and families of residents. The change to Tourist accommodation would invite members of the public and a broad range of other demographics into the quiet neighbourhood, thwarting local attempts to review potential antisocial or ill intentioned attendees.
5. The neighbourhood could be considered affluent in comparison, this in itself invites nonresidents to view the local neighbourhood as potential targets for crime and antisocial behaviour.

We are concerned that the Highway Service has potentially overlooked the danger of the road access, not considered the lack of public footpaths and should look again at the safety aspect of this application with a site visit.

The gradual change in character that long term tourist accommodation would cause to the immediate area is of great concern to us and other local residents.

End.