25 February 2026 · Committee
West Nappin Farm, Jurby West, Isle Of Man, IM7 3at
The application sought to convert a traditional single-storey Manx stone barn with a slate roof into an events barn for public and private hire, including weddings, corporate functions, and community events. The barn sits within open countryside where there is a general presumption against new development, so the key question was whether the proposal could be justified under policies supporting the re-use of redundant rural buildings of architectural or historic value for commercial purposes. Officers assessed four main issues: the principle of development, impact on landscape character, highway safety, and biodiversity. The barn was found to be in good condition and of traditional construction with historic value, satisfying the criteria in General Policy 3(b) and Business Policy 16. The commercial events use was judged to bring genuine economic benefit — through construction, long-term employment, venue hire income, and use of local supply chains — and social benefit through community use. Permitted operating hours run to 23:00 on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
The barn's traditional construction, good condition, and historic value meant its re-use for commercial events was supported by General Policy 3(b) and Business Policy 16. The development was found to deliver clear economic and social benefits without causing significant harm to landscape character, highway safety, or biodiversity. The Planning Committee was satisfied the scheme met the relevant strategic plan policies and approved it accordingly.
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 development shall be completed in accordance with the materials as indicated on approved drwg no. 327/021
Condition 3
Prior to the commencement of window and door installation, the building shall be surveyed internally by a suitably qualified ecologist, and a bat emergence survey shall be carried out between May and August, with the associated report submitted to and approved in writing by the Department prior to the completion of works. The bat survey shall identify impacts on bat species together with mitigation and enhancement measures, where appropriate, and shall include an ecological mitigation plan and timetable for its implementation. Thereafter, the approved mitigation and enhancement measures shall be fully completed prior to the use hereby permitted first commencing.
Condition 4
No external lighting shall be installed unless in accordance with a sensitive low level lighting plan, following best practise as detailed in the Bat Conservation Trust and Institute of Lighting Professionals Guidance Note 8/23 on Bats and Artificial Lighting (2023), which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department.
Condition 5
Details of a nesting cup for swallows and 2 no. bat boxes shall be submitted to planning and approved in writing by the Department, with the details including the specification and position on the building of the nesting cup and boxes. The nesting cup and bat boxes shall be installed in accordance with the approved details prior to the use of the building first commencing.
Condition 6
Prior to the use of the building hereby permitted first commencing, the parking and turning areas shall be provided in accordance with the approved plans and the areas shall be retained as such thereafter. Such areas shall not be used for any purpose other than the parking and turning of vehicles associated with the development and shall remain free of obstruction for such use at all times.
Condition 7
Prior to the use of the building hereby permitted first commencing, the access shall be hard surfaced with a gradient not exceeding 7% over its first 6m in accordance with details that shall first have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Department. Thereafter the access shall be permanently retained as approved. The re-surfacing must result in a bound surface such that no material is tracked onto the public highway.
Condition 8
No music or other forms of amplified sound shall be played within the external courtyard or any other external area of the application site. All external side hung doors of the premises shall be fitted with a self-closing mechanism before the use of the building commences and thereafter kept closed at all times except only as required for the entry or exit of goods or customers or in case of emergency.
Condition 9
No customers shall be allowed to remain on site of the premises hereby approved outside the following times : Monday - Thursday 08:00 to 23:00 Friday and Saturday 08:00 to 00:00 midnight Sunday 10:00 to 22:00
Condition 10
Notwithstanding the provision of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 2019, the development hereby permitted is considered to be a Sui Generis Use. The site shall be used for no more than 8 individual daily events per calendar month and the use shall be for public and private events only, limited to the following: Private functions - weddings, christenings, birthday celebrations and similar family/social functions; Corporate functions - business events, presentations and workshops; Community functions - presentation, talks and activities to the general public and community groups; Educational functions - use by schools and colleges for individual educational talks and presentation days.
Condition 11
The site shall not be used for any purpose other than those outlined in Condition 10 of this permission and shall not be used for any purpose as laid out in the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development) (Temporary Use or Development) Order 2015.
Condition 12
Notwithstanding the provision of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 2019 and the uses permitted by Condition 10, the premises shall not be used for any purpose as defined under Part 1 Class 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4; Part 4 Class 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4.
