Installation of aircraft fuselage to form display space; erection of sculpture; alterations to walkway

General Policy 9

In major development proposals, there should be included provision for artwork that is accessible to the public.

General Policy 9: In major development proposals, there should be included provision for artwork that is accessible to the public. CHAPTER 7 THE ENVIRONMENT CONTENTS 7.1 THE ENVIRONMENT - Introduction 7.2 The Rural Environment - Introduction 7.3 National Landscape Policy 7.4 Landscape Protection 7.5 Protection of the Open Countryside 7.6 Landscape Assessment and Classification 7.7 Woodland 7.8 Wildlife and Nature Conservation 7.9 Watercourses and Wetlands 7.10 The Coastal Environment 7.11 Coastal Planning and Development 7.12 Areas Subject to Flooding and Erosion 7.13 Agriculture 7.14 Horticulture 7.15 Equestrian Pursuits 7.16 Environmental Protection - Introduction 7.17 Pollution 7.18 Environmental Impact Assessment 7.19 Pollution Sensitive Development 7.20 Contaminated Land 7.21 Environmental Enhancement 7.22 Unstable Land 7.23 Safety Zones for Hazardous Installations 7.24 The Built Environment - Introduction 7.25 The Historic Building Stock 7.26 Demolition Extension or Alteration of a Registered Building 7.27 Change of Use of Registered Buildings 7.28 Traditional Building Materials 7.29 Development within Conservation Areas 7.30 Development adjacent to Conservation Areas 7.31 Advertisements in Conservation Areas 7.32 Demolition 7.33 Archaeology 7.34 Existing Settlements 7.35 Urban Regeneration 7.1 THE ENVIRONMENT - Introduction 7.1.1 The high quality of our environment is one of our greatest assets. The protection and enhancement of this environment are positive measures which will bring local as well as wider benefits to the Island, particularly in terms of tourism and inward investment. The comparatively large number of environment-related policies in the Plan has been divided for ease of reference into three sections: The Rural Environment Environmental Protection The Built Environment There are some issues such as archaeology, conservation areas, registered buildings, areas subject to flooding and so on, which will relate equally to both the rural and the built environment, whichever section they have been placed in for ease of reference. 7.2 The Rural Environment -Introduction 7.2.1 A healthy sustainable landscape, like a vibrant community, is dynamic. Whilst landscape and coastal change is inevitable, and in some cases desirable, the emphasis must be on the appropriateness of this change and the balance or equity between the needs of conservation and those of development. The primary goal must therefore be to respect, maintain and enhance the natural and cultural environment including nature conservation and landscape and coastal quality, and ensure its protection from inappropriate development. 7.2.2 The Isle of Man enjoys a generally beautiful and distinctive landscape and is endowed with a varied and interesting coastline. Topographically, the Isle of Man has a mountainous axis, characterised by rolling peaks, includi ng the highest on the Island, Snaefell, which reaches 2,037 feet (621 metres) above sea level. This mountain range is split by a central valley which stretches from Douglas to Peel, with wide rolling plains to both the north and south. The coastline is v ery varied; some parts are rugged in nature, but high sandy cliffs and gentle sand and shingle beaches are also characteristic of the Island's coast. 7.2.3 In order to ensure that the varying demands on the countryside and coastline are complementary an d to reflect its importance as an entity, the general policy set out in Environment Policy 1 has been adopted (see 7.5.1 below). In exceptional circumstances, where development is required in the countryside and on the coast, the need will normally be identified and assessed through the development plan process. Such a need might arise where development is required to meet housing and employment provisions which could not be met within existing settlements or to provide facilities of strategic importance for agriculture, leisure, tourism or transport or to serve needs of local communities where a rural location is required. Occasionally, circumstances might arise where a need occurs which was not foreseen at the time of the plan preparation and this will be subject to Environment Policy 1. In all cases any adverse impact of development should be minimised having regard to landscape, wildlife and other policy considerations. 7.3 National Landscape Policy 7.3.1 The Island-wide 1982 Development Plan designated significant areas of the Island as having 'High Landscape or Coastal Value Scenic Significance.' This is shown in the Island Spatial Strategy Key Diagram. This landscape zoning included much of the coastline but excluded certain areas characterised by towns. The designation also stretches inland, largely in two belts, which stretch firstly from Union Mills through to Peel and secondly from Ballaugh through Sulby, to the outskirts of Ramsey. There are other pockets throughout the Island but the northern and southern plains generally remain free from this landscape designation. Whilst this designation indicates which parts of the Island possess particular landscape and coastal quality and value, the designation does not have tiers or categories within it to enable a distinction between areas which may have greater or lesser importance in landscape terms. 7.4 Landscape Protection 7.4.1 Development which is permitted in 'Areas of High Landscape or Coastal Value and Scenic Significance' or in important landscape and coastal areas as recognised by any new landscape classification, will be subject to higher design standards than would normal ly be required. Development must be properly integrated into the landscape in terms of scale, materials, architectural style, engineering works and landscaping. Landscape features such as trees, hedgerows, sod banks or traditional stone walls which are i mportant to landscape character should be retained. In cases where development is not capable of being sensitively and unobtrusively integrated into the landscape, permission will not be granted. 7.5 Protection of the Open Countryside 7.5.1 Areas of op en countryside fall both inside and outside the existing landscape classification system. It is important however that this openness is not detrimentally affected by inappropriate development. Where areas of countryside fall outside the designation of 'H igh Landscape or Coastal Value and Scenic Significance' or are not recognised within any category contained within any revised landscape assessment in the future, this does not imply that these land areas are poor in appearance or quality. It is recognised that all of the countryside across the Island is generally of a good quality and where development proposals are permitted by other policies of the plan, they should be designed in such a way which helps preserve the rural character of the open countrysi de. Accordingly, the following general policy is adopted.

General Policy 3 (h)

development in relation to heritage interpretation

Environmental Policy 1

Protection of the countryside.

Area Plan for the East sets out locally-applicable means for implementing the policies set out in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. In that Strategic Plan, we find the Environment Policies. Environment Policy 1 states: The countryside and its ecology will be protected for its own sake. For the purposes of this policy, the countryside comprises all land which is outside the settlements defined in Appendix 3 at A.3.6 or which is not designated for future development on an Area Plan. Development which would adversely affect the countryside will not be permitted unless there is an over- riding national need in land use planning terms which outweighs the requirement to protect these areas and for which there is no reasonable and acceptable alternative. Maintaining the purpose of this Area Plan as a means of implementation, there is some further direction to be found in the Strategic Plan, at paragraph 7.2.1: 'Whilst landscape and coastal change is inevitable, and in some cases desirable, the emphasis must be on the appropriateness of this change and the balance or equity between the needs of conservation and those of development. The primary goal must therefore be to respect, maintain and enhance the natural and cultural environment including nature conservation and landscape and coastal quality, and ensure its protection from inappropriate development.' Given the comprehensive nature of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan's Environmental Policies, only a small number of additional Proposals and Recommendations are necessary. In order to produce an implementable Area Plan for the East it is necessary to recognise those statutory desig nations and strategies which whilst having an Island-wide scope are highly relevant to the protection of environments within the Plan Area. An example is the UNESCO Biosphere status afforded to the Isle of Man. Island-level strategies identify crossborder issues and take account of the cumulative impacts of human engagement with nature. Area Plan Objectives i. To protect, conserve and enhance the natural and cultural environment of the plan area and promote biodiversity. ii. To improve the function, usability and provision of our green infrastructure and public spaces by providing a network of green spaces and features which are connected and where possible, accessible to the public. iii. To manage and improve flood risk and improve drainage conditions. iv. To support the working countryside and its custodians in maintaini ng a sustainable rural economy. Area Plan Desired Outcomes i. Where approved, d evelopment will be ecologically sustainable and designed to protect and where possible enhance biodiversity as well as mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. ii. The Green Infrastructure network will be established and fostered, connecting people with nature in a way that achieves the best shared outcomes for the urban and natural environment. iii. Statutory and non-statutory designations will continue to provide protection to the most important and most vulnerable cultural assets, habitats and environments in the plan area. iv. Beyond the towns and villages, the area as a whole will retain its landscape setting including its important visual interaction with the central uplands, central valley, coast and marine environment. Natural Environment Proposal 1 The Department supports the protection, creation and improvement of green infrastructure in the East, particularly in those locations which have the potential to be part of a Green Infrastructure Network. Applications for development must take into account any approved Government Green Infrastructure Strategies, but in any case, must identify how development proposals intend to contribute to the long term provision of a network of connected green spaces. UNESCO Biosphere In 2017, the Isle of Man became the first ever entire nation to achieve UNESCO Biosphere status. Project partners pledge to take steps to protect natural resources, develop the economy in a sustainable way and promote outstanding living landscapes. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are established to connect people and the economy with nature, wildlife, culture, heritage and communities. Biosphere Reserves have three functions: Conservation: to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation. Development: to foster economic and human development which is socio -culturally and ecologically sustainable. Logistic support: to support demonstration projects, environmental education and training, research and monitoring related to local, regional, national and global issues of conservation and sustainable development. The Isle of Man Biosphere is zoned into six areas . Examples of all of these can be found in the Eastern area: Terrestrial Core areas, Marine Core areas, Terrestrial Buffer zone, Marine Buffer zone, Terrestrial Transition areas and Marine Transition areas. There is some overlap with The Isle of Man's First Biodiversity Strategy 2015-20