Arch Tec Planning Statement

ARCH TEC (IOM) LTD Architectural Design Consultancy The Architectural Studio, 20 Duke Street, Douglas, Isle of Man.

Telephone 00 44 (01624) 622122 Mobile 00 44 (07624) 498099. E Mail : [email protected]

Planning Department D.O.I Planning & Building Control Division Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas. IM1 2SF

30 June 2014.

RE : PLANNING APPLICATION – PROPOSED ALTERATION & EXTENSION OF DWELLING ‘CROFT HOUSE’ CHURCH ROAD SANTON

Planning Statement

Dear Sir / Madam

Please find enclosed our detailed planning application in respect of the above application. The application details contain scale drawings of the existing dwelling and our proposed drawing package.

In addition to this statement, also enclosed is a letter from the applicants Mr & Mrs Brian Faragher providing a brief explanation as to the necessity of extending their home this way.

The proposals cover four areas, the ground floor extension of the main living accommodation, a further ground floor extension to expand the utility room, the inclusion of a portico off the front elevation & finally the vertical extension of living accommodation into the roof space.

In the first instance the orangery extension creates a modest extension of the ground floor footprint by nearly 20 square metres & is built on an existing raised decking area, presently used for an external sitting / dining area. The proposal seeks to ‘square up’ the built footprint by infilling this area with a single storey extension of the family room, contained within masonry walls and a flat roof with feature roof light.

Similarly the other ground floor extension simply infill’s an area of yard to the rear of the dwelling, again single storey with a flat roof & roof light, that is not visible from Church Road or even from further afield, being almost totally obscured by a substantial stone barn built up to the properties rear boundary.

On the front elevation we include the addition of a feature portico, again modest in proportion and typical of established designs to guard the front door of such properties.

Finally the roof conversion work, being mindful of previous approvals to extend the dwelling, we felt the loft conversion was a practical way of providing further bedroom accommodation with minimal impact. In order to achieve practical headroom, it has been necessary to raise the roof pitch from approx thirty five to forty degrees – ultimately this raises the main ridge height by approx 600 mm and creates a fourth bedroom and bathroom, served by roof dormers to match others existing on Croft House.

In terms of policy, it is accepted by the applicant that further extensions ultimately increase the floor area beyond 50% of the existing building, as mentioned for guidance within housing Policy 15 of the Strategic Plan. We suggest that the ground floor extensions are modest, do not extend beyond the present built footprint of Croft House and are well screened from public view, being subordinate to the existing dwelling and creating little impact when viewed from public vantage, an established hedgerow screening this area of the ground floor and much visibility from Church Road. We believe the Orangery design is sympathetic to the dwelling and less intensive than a conservatory or pitched roof extension. Whilst the attic conversion necessitates a slight increase in overall height at the ridge, we have maintained the existing eaves level to the front & rear & any further elevation at the gables is successfully masked by the chimneys themselves, resulting in negligible impact. Furthermore, the applicant's personal justification and choice of options to provide a farming family home must be considered in assessing if this proposal is in fact satisfactory and will hopefully assist to mitigate the officers recommendation.

Should you require anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me

Yours faithfully

M D Hobson Director For and Behalf of Arch Tec ( IOM ) Ltd

Registered in the Isle of Man, Company No 72006. Directors: M.D. Hobson HNC, D. Hobson. Registered office: The Crofts, 7 Olafs Close, Governors Hill,, Douglas, Isle of Man.