12 August 2025 · Committee
Field 414532, Barracks Road, Port St Mary, Isle Of Man, IM9 6da
Planning permission was granted for the erection of a new clubhouse at Field 414532, Magherchirrym, Port Erin, Isle of Man. The proposal includes roof-mounted solar panels, a viewing terrace, associated hard landscaping, and external lighting. The applicant is Sport Erin. The site is an existing sports pitch with a dedicated hard-standing car park. At the time of the application, temporary buildings in the form of painted green containers were in use on site as changing rooms for players and a referee, and for equipment storage. The new clubhouse would replace these temporary structures.
The application was approved by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on 12 August 2025. The key planning issues considered included the principle of development, design, visual impact, neighbouring amenity, landscaping, and highways access and parking. The proposal was found acceptable across all these areas and permission was granted subject to 11 conditions.
General Development Considerations (a-n)
The proposed erection of a clubhouse has been designed to ensure compliance with General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan 2016.
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
Priority for new development to identified towns and villages
Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, the following policies are considered to be relevant
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:
Design and visual impact
Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, the following policies are considered to be relevant
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.
Hierarchy of defined settlements for development
The application site falls outside of a defined settlement boundary within the area plan for the South (Map 7) and would therefore not comply with SP1-4
Protection of the wider environment and properties through nuisances
Environment Policy 22: Development will not be permitted where it would unacceptably harm the environment and/or the amenity of nearby properties in terms of: i) pollution of sea, surface water or groundwater; ii) emissions of airborne pollutants; and iii) vibration, odour, noise or light pollution. 7.17.2 In addition to the above, changes in the activities associated with the current permitted use of land or a building, which in themselves do not constitute development and therefore do not require planning permission, can have an adverse impact on adjacent properties by virtue of noise, light or general disturbance. For example the addition of security lig hting on a property may cause light pollution affecting adjacent properties and the wider area. The introduction of new activities into established parks and recreation areas can have an impact on neighbours. In such cases the Department would advocate t he person or organisation considering the change to give careful consideration to the potential impact of such activity in terms of location, siting and design.
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 use of the site hereby permitted shall be restricted to: (i) Uses incidental to the use of the application site as a sports ground, including holding social functions.
Condition 3
Except as provided by Condition 4 below, the clubhouse/function room shall be closed, and no person shall be inside the building, except for security purposes, outside the hours of 09.30-22.30 Monday to Thursdays, 09.30-23.30 on Fridays, 08.30-23.30 on Saturdays and 08.30-22.30 on Sundays.
Condition 4
The Department may, on written application by Nomads (or its successors) approve a variation of the hours specified in Condition 3 above, on no more than 10 occasions in any calendar year: such variation shall not in any instance permit people to be within the building between 01.00-08.30 hours.
Condition 5
No lights may be illuminated beyond half an hour of the operating times as provided for in conditions 3 and 4.
Condition 6
For the avoidance of doubt no approval is hereby granted for any external floodlights to either pitch or car parks. A further planning application would be required for such lightning.
Condition 7
Prior to the occupation of the club house, details shall be submitted showing the car parking layout, demarcation of the spaces, bicycle storage and surface treatment details and drainage of the car parking areas. Further details shall also be provided of any hardstanding areas or paths around the club house. All hard landscaping works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Condition 8
No approval is hereby granted for the storage or retention of any containers/storage units within 6 months of occupation or substantial completion of the clubhouse. Such structures will require additional planning approval for retention.
Condition 9
Prior to the occupation of the development, details of mechanical ventilation of the kitchen shall be submitted to and approved by the Department. The approved means of ventilation shall be implemented and retained thereafter.
Condition 10
Prior to the occupation or substantial completion of the clubhouse, details / trade literature of all external lighting affixed to the building shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Department prior to installation. Thereafter, the lighting is to be installed in accordance with those approved details.
Condition 11
No development shall be commenced until a hard and soft landscaping scheme has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. Such a scheme shall include details of all fences, trees, hedgerows and other planting which are to be retained; details of all new, fences and other surface treatment areas; a planting specification to include numbers, density, size, species and positions of all new trees and shrubs; the location of grassed areas details of the hard surface treatment of the open parts of the site and a programme of implementation. All hard and/or soft landscaping works shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details. The works shall be carried out prior to the occupation of any part of the development or in accordance with the programme agreed in writing with the Department. 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 to be first approved in writing by the Department. All hard landscape works shall be permanently retained in accordance with the approved details.
Variation of condition 2 of PA 15/1320B involving siting of timber cladded temporary changing room and storage facilities and extension of time for use.
Works in connection with creation of public park including landscaping, creation of new pedestrian access, provision of parking and creation of running track.
Layout of sports pitches for rugby, cricket and other community uses, including access, car parking, prefabricated changing rooms and storage units.
Residential development of 155 dwellings with highway and drainage infrastructure, Public Open Space and landscaping, including Public Open Space which is suitable for future sports and recreation use and cemetery extension.
