29 July 2025 · Committee
Saddle Mews Nursing Home, Saddle Mews, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM2 1hy
Permission was granted to convert the former Saddle Mews Nursing Home on Groves Road, Douglas, into six townhouses. The building is a vacant three-storey red brick structure with a mansard roof, surrounded by metal fencing, which the officer's report described as looking unsightly. The site sits beside the National Sports Centre to the east and the Saddle Mews Retirement Village to the west and north. The committee considered a range of planning issues, including whether it was appropriate to lose the nursing home use in favour of general housing, and how the development would affect the character of the area, nearby trees, and the amenity of residents in the adjoining retirement village. Flood risk, parking, and road safety were also assessed. The application was approved by the committee on 29 July 2025, with seven conditions attached to the permission.
The committee approved the application to convert the vacant former nursing home into six townhouses. Key planning issues considered included whether the loss of the nursing home use and the introduction of general housing was acceptable in principle, the impact on the character and appearance of the area, effects on adjacent trees, living conditions of residents in the neighbouring Saddle Mews Retirement Village, flood risk, and parking and road safety.
Development should make the best use of resources
optimising the use of previously developed land, redundant buildings
Strategic Policy 1: Development should make the best use of resources by: (a) optimising the use of previously developed land, redundant buildings, unused and under -used land and buildings, and re - using scarce indigenous building materials; (b) ensuring efficient use of sites, taking into account the needs for access, landscaping, open space (1) and amenity standards; and (c) being located so as to utilise existing and planned infrastructure, facilities and services. 4.2.2 In pursuance of (c) abo ve, the Department will, when formulating its programme for the preparation of new Area Plans, have particular regard to: (a) the availability of mains drainage connected to IRIS or other mains systems; (b) securing the future viability of rural primary schools; (c) the public investment in the Island's highway, bus, railway and tramway networks; (d) the provision and availability of water; and (e) community facilities. 4.3 Environment 4.3.1
New development will be located primarily within our existing towns and villages
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:
Spatial Policy 5
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.
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Condition 2
All external facing and roofing materials to be used on the development hereby approved shall be as specified on Drawing Number 24 - 113 - 03 A unless details are otherwise submitted to and agreed in writing by the Department. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.
Condition 3
No development shall commence until a hard and soft landscaping scheme has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department.
Condition 4
Any boundary wall fronting the highway shall be no more than 1m in height throughout its length.
Condition 5
No works or site clearance shall commence until details of the means of protecting the existing trees outside the site but adjacent to its eastern boundary during the works have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department.
Condition 6
The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the vehicular access, parking and turning areas have been provided in accordance with the approved plans.
Condition 7
The development hereby approved shall not be occupied until the cycle and bin storage areas have been provided in accordance with the approved plans.
