10 October 2025 · Delegated
Elfin Glen And Claghbane Woods, Mountain Road, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 2bl
The application relates to Claughbane Quarry within Claughbane Plantation, Ramsey, and sought approval of information required by condition 2 of planning permission 23/01042/B. That condition required a Construction Environmental Statement (CES) to be submitted and approved before any works could begin. The CES sets out measures to protect nesting birds, roosting bats, and surrounding habitats during construction. The submitted information incorporated mitigation recommendations from the Manx Wildlife Trust's Protected Species Report for bats (October 2023) and eradication measures from the MWT's Invasive Non-Native Species Management Plan (October 2023). The proposal was assessed against Isle of Man Strategic Plan policies ENV4 and ENV5, which require preservation and enhancement of site ecology and protection of nesting birds and protected species such as bats.
The submitted Construction Environmental Statement was found to satisfy the requirements of the original condition. It included the specific bat mitigation and invasive species eradication measures required by the MWT reports, meeting the ecological protection standards set out under policies ENV4 and ENV5. The application was approved by delegated decision, with works required to be carried out in strict accordance with the agreed statement.
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
preserving, maintaining and enhancing the Ecology of the site
Environment Policy 4: Development will not be permitted which would adversely affect: (a) species and habitats of international importance: (i) protected species of international importance or their habitats; or (ii) proposed or designated Ramsar and Emerald Sites or other internationally important sites. (b) species and habitats of national importance: (i) protected species of national importance or their habitats; (1) Wildlife Sites are defined in Appendix 1 (ii) proposed or designated National Nature Reserves, or Areas of Special Scientific Interest; or (iii) Marine Nature Reserves; or (iv) National Trust Land. (c) species and habitats of local importance such as Wildlife Sites, local nature reserves, priority habitats or species identified in any Manx Biodiversity Action Plan which do not already benefit from statutory protection, Areas of Special Protection and Bird Sanctuaries and landscape features of importance to wild flora and fauna by reason of their continuous nature or function as a corridor between habitats. Some areas to which this policy appli es are identified as Areas of Ecological Importance or Interest on extant Local or Area Plans, but others, whose importance was not evident at the time of the adoption of the relevant Local or Area Plan, are not, particularly where that plan has been in pl ace for many years. In these circumstances, the Department will seek site specific advice from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry if development proposals are brought forward.
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
offering protection to nest birds and Protected Species such as Bats
Environment Policy 5: In exceptional circumstances wh ere development is allowed which could adversely affect a site recognised under Environmental Policy 4, conditions will be imposed and/or Planning Agreements sought to: (a) minimise disturbance; (b) conserve and manage its ecological interest as far as possible; and (c) where damage is unavoidable, provide new or replacement habitats so that the loss to the total ecological resource is mitigated. 7.8.7 In addition to existing, specific areas of the Island designated as being important areas for landscape value, nature conservation and ecological habitats, there are also wider areas which are increasingly being recognised as having combined importance in terms of ecological, archaeological, landscape and / or scientific value. These areas should be fully investigated to assess the extent of these qualities and, where appropriate, their potential for a new designation in the form of 'National Heritage Areas'. This should be in addition to any other designation afforded to them under existing legislation or any new landscape assessment exercise.
