3 June 2014 · Committee
Manxonia House, Bay View Road, Port St Mary, Isle Of Man, IM9 5da
Permission was granted for the conversion of existing office accommodation at Manxonia House, Bay View Road, Port St. Mary into two dwellings. The proposal also included the retention of an existing first-floor flat and a ground-floor retail unit, replacement windows, and reinstatement of a boundary wall. The site is a prominent stone-faced building in the centre of Port St. Mary, physically attached to neighbouring buildings and situated near the Town Hall, local shops, and a restaurant. The officer's report identified three main planning issues: the visual impact on the street scene, the adequacy of parking provision, and the loss of commercial use at ground and first floor levels.
The application was permitted by committee. The key planning questions were whether the changes were acceptable in this prominent village street scene, whether adequate car parking existed, and whether the loss of commercial floorspace at ground and first floor levels was justified. The committee resolved to approve the proposal subject to one condition.
Mixed Use Proposal 4
The upper floors of buildings in the Mixed Use areas of Castletown, Port Erin, Port St Mary and Ballasalla may be appropriate for office use although there will be a presumption in favour of the retention of existing residential uses subject to the circumstances and merits of any alternative uses.
Mixed Use Proposal 2
Within the Port St Mary Mixed Use area alternative uses to retail use on the ground floor of units may be acceptable if such uses would add to the vitality and viability of the Village. Residential uses will not normally be accepted, subject to the circumstances and merits of such a use.
Condition 1
1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
