Decision Notice

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1999 The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019

In pursuance of powers granted under the above Act, and subordinate Orders and Regulations, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture determined to REFUSE an application by A.D. Hewett Dental Practise, Ref 25/90806/B, for the Removal of front door and replacement of ground floor shopfront fenestration at 86 Bucks Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 3AG for the following reason(s):

• 1. The proposed replacement shopfront would remove the street-facing entrance and introduce a fully frosted, seamless glazed frontage, resulting in a dead frontage that erodes the established pattern of active frontages along Bucks Road. The design fails to respect the architectural rhythm of the terrace and the proportional relationship between the ground and upper floors, contrary to General Policy 2(b, c, d) and Strategic Policy 3 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, which require development to respect and enhance local character and integrate successfully with its surroundings.
• 2. The proposal introduces a fully frosted, seamless glazed frontage without a street-facing door, creating an inert treatment that disrupts the established pattern of active frontages along Bucks Road. While modern shopfronts exist in the wider area, these retain street-facing doors and visual permeability. The presence of modern interventions does not justify further erosion of character, particularly where the scheme fails to align with the principles of Planning Circular 7/89 (Shop Fronts), which require respect for scale, rhythm, and openness. The proposal therefore fails to maintain the sense of engagement expected in commercial streets, contrary to General Policy 2(b, c) and Strategic Policy 3.
• 3. The site lies immediately adjacent to a designated Conservation Area. The removal of the entrance door and introduction of a fully frosted, seamless pane would create a discordant element that interrupts the established rhythm of the terrace and diminishes the architectural integrity of the street edge. The proposal therefore fails to preserve the setting of the Conservation Area and conflicts with Environment Policy 36, which requires development near Conservation Areas to avoid detriment to important views into or out of the Conservation Area.

Date of Issue: 3rd February 2026

A MORGAN Interim Director of Planning and Building Control

Guidance Note

This decision was made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority delegated to them.

This decision refers only to that applied for under the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 and its subordinate legislation.

A copy of the Officer’s report and any correspondence which informed the assessment and decision is available to view on the Government’s website (via https://pbc.gov.im/onlineapplications/)

A determination to refuse planning approval does not have effect —

•  if an appeal is submitted until the appeal is determined or withdrawn; or
•  if no appeal is submitted, until the time within which an appeal may be submitted has expired (21 days from the date of this notice).

Appeal Any appeal must be in writing, include the appropriate fee and be submitted to the Department within 21 days of the date of this Notice.

Guidance on how to appeal is available at gov.im/howtoappeal