7 April 2025 · Delegated
Elm Tree House, Main Road, Onchan, Isle Of Man, IM3 1ah
Permission was granted for alterations to Elm Tree House, a detached building on the corner of Main Road and Elm Tree Road in Onchan. The works cover changes to the roofline and gutter on the Main Road elevation, new external wall render, and replacement of the building name signage. The officer noted that the building currently has bare dark brown brick with uPVC windows to upper floors and aluminium glazing at ground floor level, while surrounding properties are finished in painted render. The frontage facing Elm Tree Road is predominantly glazed at ground floor with brick and a mansard roof above. The key planning issues considered were the principle of the development, its overall impact, and any effect on neighbouring amenity. The application was approved with one condition.
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture approved this application on 7 April 2025. The officer assessed the principle of the development, its overall impact, and any effect on neighbouring amenity, and recommended approval. The decision was made under delegated authority.
General development considerations
The proposed application to materially alter the external appearance of the property is not considered to harm the character of the surrounding streetscene and would respect the site/ property in accordance with General Policy 2(b) & (c) of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Priority for new development to identified towns and villages
The principle of development here would be acceptable as the building sits within the defined settlement of Onchan and is within a named settlement. As such the proposal would be in accordance with Strategic Policy 2
Strategic Policy 2: New development will be located primarily within our existing towns and villages, or, where appropriate, in sustainable urban extensions(2) of these towns and villages. Development will be permitted in the countryside only in the exceptional circumstances identified in paragraph 6.3. (1) Open Space is defined in Appendix 1. (2) Sustainable Urban Extensions are defined in Appendix 1 4.3.2 Appendix 3 to the Plan identifies the towns and villages, and also explains why the Department has rejected the idea of a new settlement, which was mooted in the Consultation Draft published in May 2000. 4.3.3 Each of our towns and villages has an ind ividual character arising not only from its geographical position and existing fabric, but also from its historical, cultural, and social background. This character should be protected and enhanced. Accordingly:
Onchan is a named service centre
The principle of development here would be acceptable as the building sits within the defined settlement of Onchan and is within a named settlement. As such the proposal would be in accordance with Strategic Policy 2 and Spatial Policy 2.
General development considerations
It is appropriate to consider the following planning policies from the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016;
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
