16 April 2025 · Committee
1 Avondale House, Palace Terrace, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 4ne
The application sought permission to use Flat 1 at Avondale House, 9-10 Palace Terrace, Queens Promenade, Douglas as tourist accommodation in addition to its existing residential use. Avondale House is a first-floor apartment within a terraced-style apartment building on the northwest side of Queens Promenade, with parking to the rear accessed via a lane. The committee refused the application on 16 April 2025. The stated reason was that the proposal would compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents, with particular concern about noise and security arising from tourist use of the flat. The case officer had recommended approval, and the key issues considered included the impact on the character of the area, parking provision, and neighbour amenity. The committee's decision departed from the officer's recommendation, with the harm to neighbours being the decisive factor.
The committee refused the application on the grounds that using the flat as tourist accommodation would compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents, particularly in relation to noise and security. Although the case officer had recommended approval, the committee concluded the proposal did not meet the relevant strategic plan policies.
Refusal Reasons
Strategic Policy 5
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Strategic Policy 5: New development, including individual buildings, should be designed so as to make a positive contribution to the environment of the Island. In appropriate cases the Department will require planning applications to be supported by a Design Statement which will be required to take account of the Strategic Aim and Policies. 4.4 Economy 4.4.1 The Spatial Strategy identifies the Major Employment Areas around the Island. While the majority of business and employment is focused around the Douglas Metropolitan Area, there are other major employment areas at Castletown, the Airport/Freeport, Peel, Ramsey and Jurby. The Department considers the distribution of employment areas provides a spread of employment opportunities around the Island. While recognising the opportunities for small scale local employment within existing centres it is considered new employment should, in the main, be concentrated within existing settlements or those major employment areas referred to in the Island Spatial Strategy and illustrated on the Key Diagram. Existing Local and new Area Plans will provide detailed boundar ies for these areas. From time to time Government may judge it appropriate to offer financial incentives to encourage economic activity or investment in particular parts of the Island.
General Policy 2 (b), (g), (h), (i), (m), (n)
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Environment Policy 10, 13
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Environment Policy 32, 33
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Transport Policy 7
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Transport Policy 7: The Department will require that in all new development, parking provision must be in accordance with the Department's current standards. The current standards are set out in Appendix 7. 11.5.4 New development can have a significant impact in terms of the traffic generated by it and the impact on the various modes of travel. The Department considers that proposals which are likely to be significant traffic generators should be accompanied by a Transport Assessment(1) which should look at all modes of transport including access by public transport, cycling and on foot.
Appendix 7.6
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Business Policy 13
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016
Business Policy 13: Permission will generally be given for the use of private residential properties as tourist accommodation providing that it can be demonstrated that such u se would not compromise the amenities of neighbouring residents.
Written Statement of the Area Plan (9.11.2)
Area Plan for the East
