8 October 2025 · Delegated
Restaurant, Ainsdale, 2, Empire Terrace, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 4le
This application sought permission to change the use of the ground floor of 2 Empire Terrace, Douglas, from its existing use to a house of multiple occupation, creating four new bedrooms on the ground floor of the mid-terrace, four-storey building. The application was refused by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on 8 October 2025. The decision found that the proposed bedrooms would not provide satisfactory amenity standards, and that both the front and rear ground floor bedrooms failed to comply with housing policy requirements under the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. A further reason for refusal was that the bedroom proposed immediately adjacent to the boiler room did not meet the minimum standards required by the Housing (Standards) Regulations 2017.
The application was refused on two grounds. First, the four proposed ground floor bedrooms would not provide satisfactory amenity standards and did not meet the relevant housing policy requirements for both front and rear bedrooms under the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. Second, the bedroom proposed next to the boiler room failed to meet the minimum standards set out in the Housing (Standards) Regulations 2017.
Refusal Reasons
Additional use of ground floor flat to be included as part of HMO approved under 24/00931/LAW
Certificate of Lawfulness for use as a HMO with 15 rooms and additional ground floor flat
change of use of existing restaurant into a resident dining area and installation of roof lights
