21 January 2025 · Delegated
Jackson House, King Williams College, King Williams College Grounds, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1tp
The application covers Jackson House and the Stenning Building at King William's College, Castletown. The works include a steel canopy on the southern elevation of Jackson House, louvred grilles to both buildings, landscaping to create playground and outdoor learning spaces, and new boundary fencing — all to repurpose the buildings for use by the Buchan School as a primary school. The main planning issues assessed were the impact on visual amenity, the setting of nearby registered buildings, ecology (including tree removal and potential bat roosts), and external lighting near a wooded area. Two trees are to be removed, but new native and ornamental planting was considered sufficient to more than offset that loss. A condition was imposed requiring any external lighting to be designed in line with bat-sensitive guidance. The proposal was found to comply with General Policy 2 and Community Policy 5 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan (2016).
The works were approved because they will not harm visual amenity, the character of the landscape, or the setting of nearby registered buildings. The new planting more than compensates for the two trees removed, and conditions address external lighting and bat protection. The development also delivers a clear community benefit by improving the quality of educational provision on the Island.
General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan
complies with General Policy 2
General Policy 2: Development 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 that the development: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption. 6.3 Development outside of areas zoned for development
Community Policy 5
Community Policy 5: Permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools and institutions of higher education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated Open Space. 10.11 Community Health Care Facilities 10.11.1 Health care facilities such as nursing homes, residential homes, or training centres are usually sited within residential areas, but can generate activity and traffic which has detrimental effects on the amenity and character of these areas. The following policy is therefore adopted.
Environment Policy 4 of the Strategic Plan
ensure compliance with Strategic Policy 4
uch as this, the breaks in the urban fabric and the features of nature which provide a sense of openness should be protected from development which would erode this (see Maps 3 and 10). Natural Environment Proposal 4 (Green Gap) Between the settlements of Glen Vine and Crosby, development which would erode the separation and detract from the openness between the settlements is unlikely to be supported. Douglas, Union Mills and Strang (see Maps 3, 4 and 8) Natural Environment Proposal 5 (Green Gap) Between the settlements of and Douglas, Union Mills and Strang, development which would erode the separation and detract from the openness between the settlements is unlikely to be supported. The Upland Environment The Manx Uplands are an iconic part of our landscape and heritage. Reference to the 'sweet mountain air' and 'green hills and rocks' are enshrined in our national anthem and the colours of the heather and gorse are woven into the very fabric of Manx tartan. The hills are a place of great beauty, yet for some they are also a place to work and for others a place to exercise or simply enjoy open space. Our Uplands are also home to plants and animals that whilst familiar to us, are rare and impor tant in a global and European context. Furthermore, the uplands are a rich repository of cultural and archaeological remains, which are sensitive to change and can easily be damaged by inappropriate development. Production of food is an important and obvi ous function of hill land. But surprisingly, the Manx hills provide everyday functions that most people take for granted. Peatlands, which cover most of our hills reduce the impacts of climate change by locking up carbon dioxide, collect and filter our drinking water and slow the passage of rainfall into streams and rivers, thus reducing downstream flood risk. These multiple uses are of great benefit to the economy of the Isle of Man and the well - being of its people. It is important that the hills continue to provide these benefits long into the future. Ensuring sustainable management of such a wide range of uses to the satisfaction of all interested parties whilst retaining functions essential to the well -being of the Isle of Man is of paramount importance. The Isle of Man Government is the owner and landlord for the majority of the Uplands in the East region and is therefore in a position to implement policy which will deliver the optimum range of ecosystem services. Appropriate and positive Upland management such as controlled rotational burning/cutting of heather and low intensity grazing helps to reduce the fuel load of the hill, provides firebreaks and reduces the risk of unplanned wildfires that further protects the biodiversity of the site, but also the vast amounts of carbon locked away in the peat soils. The majority of this work is carried out by The Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture's grazing and shooting tenants. The Manx Uplands are critically important from a habitat and biodiversity perspective. The hills in the East support a significant number of breeding hen harriers; however, other native Upland breeding birds such as curlew and red grouse have suffered severe declines in recent decades and as such are of high conservation concern. Strict control of access and recreational activity on vulnerable soils should be implemented to reduce soil erosion and subsequent carbon loss. Curlew and hen harriers are recognised as an internationally important species, while (within the EU) upland heather moorland is designated as a priority habitat. In order to ensure protection and positive management of the Uplands, the following proposal is appropriate: Environment Proposal 6 Uses of the Uplands that contribute to the management and preservation of this distinctive environment will be supported. Dark Skies On the Isle of Man, 26 Dark Sky Discovery Sites have been identified, of which nine are located in the East. They are classified as Milky Way Sites meaning that at these sites the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. The sites are accessible and light pollution is limited. The following Dark Sky Discovery Sites are located within the East: • Port Soderick Upper Car Park • Port Soderick Brooghs, Little Ness Car Park • Mount Murray Golf Club • Onchan Park • West Baldwin Reservoir Car Park • Clypse Kerrowdhoo Reservoir Car Park • Conrhenny Car Park • Ballanette Nature Reserve • Axnfell Plantation Natural Environment Proposal 7 Proposals for development in the vicinity of Dark Sky Discovery Sites are to have minimal outdoor lighting and be encouraged to have a design response which is non-intrusive into the darkness of night. Baffling and directionality of lighting must be sensitive to contain any necessary lighting within a subject site only. Watercourses and Wetlands The collection of hills in the East has produced a network of mountain streams which gradually join and widen to become the rivers flowing out into Douglas Bay, Port Groudle a
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Condition 2
The soft landscaping of the site shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details as shown on approved Drawing No. TBS-ITR-XX-00-DR-L0001 Rev P04. The approved scheme shall be carried out and fully completed within the first available planting season following the date of this permission. Thereafter, any trees or plants indicated on the approved scheme which, within a period of five years from the date of planting, die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced during the next planting season with other trees or plants of a species and size on a like for like basis.
Condition 3
No retained tree as shown on the approved Tree Protection Plan, Drawing No. OTP010924, shall be cut down, uprooted, destroyed, or damaged in any manner during the construction phase and thereafter, within five years from the date on which the development first comes into operation. In the event that a retained tree become damaged or otherwise defective, the Department shall be notified as soon as reasonably practicable and remedial action agreed and implemented.
Condition 4
No external lighting, including security lighting, shall be installed during the construction and operational phases of the development hereby approved other than in accordance with details that have previously been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. The scheme shall accord with the recommendations outlined in the BCT and ILP Guidance Note 8 Bats and Artificial Lighting (12 September 2018), or any subsequent version.
Condition 5
Prior to the removal of any tree on the site, as indicated on approved Tree Removal Plan, Drawing No. TR-310824, a bat box suitable for crevice dwelling species shall be installed on a tree within the site. The siting and specification of the bat box shall have first been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and thereafter so maintained. In order to enhance habitat on the site pursuant to Environment Policy 4 of the Strategic Plan.