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Application No.: 25/00750/CON Applicant: Mr William Dunlop Proposal: Registered Building consent for replacement of two casement opening windows on the south elevation - RB 172 (in association with 25/90749/GB) Site Address: Sulby Methodist Church Main Road Sulby Isle Of Man IM7 2HP Technical Officer: Tom Sinden Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 12.09.2025 _________________________________________________________________
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
C 1. The works hereby granted registered building consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this consent.
Reason: To comply with paragraph 2(2)(a) of schedule 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented registered building consents.
It is judged that the application meets the statutory test within section 16 of the Act, as the building and its features of special architectural and historic interest, is being preserved by the replacement windows. It is also judged that the application would accord with Strategic Policy 4, Environment Policy 32 and Environment Policy 34 of the Strategic Plan as the proposed works would protect and preserve the registered building's special interest and traditional materials are being used. The application is therefore deemed to be acceptable.
This decision relates to the timber framed windows specified within the supporting information submitted on 4.8.2025.
________________________________________________________________ Interested Person Status None _________________________________________________________________
1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The site is the Registered Building Sulby Methodist Church (RB172). Constructed in 191213, the building is a good example of an early 20th century Edwardian Methodist chapel and retains many original features and details including arts and crafts inspired stained glass.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 This application seeks registered building consent to replace two casement opening windows on the south elevation of the building. The existing windows are rectangular in form with small casement opening sections at their head. The windows have obscure glazing. The proposed replacement windows would be like for like in respect of the windows' form, materials and glazing.
3.2 National policy: THE ISLE OF MAN STRATEGIC PLAN 2016
Strategic Policy 4: Proposals for development must: (a) Protect or enhance the fabric and setting of Ancient Monuments, Registered Buildings(1), Conservation Areas(2), buildings and structures within National Heritage Areas and sites of archaeological interest;
Environment Policy 32: Extensions or alterations to a Registered Building which would affect detrimentally its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest will not be permitted.
Environment Policy 34: In the maintenance, alteration or extension of pre-1920 buildings, the use of traditional materials will be preferred.
3.3 PPS 1/01 - Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man - 3.4 Planning Circulars 1/98: The Alteration And Replacement Of Windows
TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999 Statutory Duty S16 Registered buildings: supplementary provisions (3) In considering —
the relevant Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses.
5.1 There are numerous historic applications within the curtilage of the church. The most relevant application is judged to be 21/00588/CON, which granted registered building consent for internal works involving the removal of pews and concrete plinths, removal of tiled floor and installation of new floor, replacement of existing heating system with underfloor heating, remedial works to stained glass windows and glazed screen and upgrading of kitchen and toilet facilities. - 6.0 REPRESENTATIONS
6.1 Lezayre Parish Commissioners have stated that they have no objections to the application (8.8.2025). - 7.0 ASSESSMENT Statutory Test
7.1 Section 16 of the Act states that the "Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses." In this instance, the application proposes to replace two windows on the building's south elevation in a like for like manner. The windows in question are not judged to be making a contribution to the building's special architectural or historic interest, and do not contain any of the historic stained glass noted in section 1.1. With this in mind, the like for like replacement of these windows is judged to be something that would preserve the building's special interest. Policy Tests
7.2 As per section 7.1 above, the existing windows proposed to be replaced are not judged to be making a specific contribution to the building's special interest. As the materials, form, opening method and glazing is proposed to match the existing units, the application is judged to follow the guidance within planning circular 1/98. With this in mind, the proposals are judged to preserve the building's special interest and use traditional materials in accordance with environment policies 32 and 34. - 8.0 CONCLUSION
8.1 It is judged that the application meets the statutory test within section 16 of the Act, as the building and its features of special architectural and historic interest, is being preserved by the replacement windows. It is also judged that the application would accord with Strategic Policy 4, Environment Policy 32 and Environment Policy 34 of the Strategic Plan as the proposed works would protect and preserve the registered building's special interest and traditional materials are being used. The application is therefore recommended for approval. - 9.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS
9.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Registered Buildings) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following are automatically interested persons:
9.2 In addition to those above, the Regulation 9(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.
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: 12.09.2025 Determining Officer
Signed : C BALMER Chris Balmer Principal Planner
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