15 December 2014 · Delegated
Ballacorkish Farm, Scholaby Road, Colby, Isle Of Man, IM9 4ah
Permission was granted for the erection of two agricultural buildings at Ballacorkish Farm, Scholaby Road, Colby, Isle of Man. The application was submitted by Mr Kenneth Gawne and decided by delegated authority. The site is a large farm holding accessed from Scholaby Road, with a mix of traditional stone outbuildings, more modern structures, and a farmhouse. The officer's assessment focused on whether the buildings were agriculturally justified and whether their design, scale, and position would be appropriate for the setting. The Department of Infrastructure approved the proposal, with two conditions attached to the permission.
The Department of Infrastructure approved the application on 15 December 2014. The key planning considerations were the agricultural justification for the buildings, their design, size, siting and finish, and the impact on the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area. These were found to be acceptable.
The Isle of Man Strategic Plan
it is appropriate to consider Environment Policy 15 of The Isle of Man Strategic Plan (20th June 2007)
Environment Policy 15: Where the Department is satisfied that there is agricultural or horticultural need for a new building (including a dwelling), sufficient to outweigh the general policy against development in the countryside, and that the impact of this developme nt including buildings, accesses, servicing etc. is acceptable, such development must be sited as close as is practically possible to existing building groups and be appropriate in terms of scale, materials, colour, siting and form to ensure that all new d evelopments are sympathetic to the landscape and built environment of which they will form a part. Only in exceptional circumstances will buildings be permitted in exposed or isolated areas or close to public highways and in all such cases will be subject to appropriate landscaping. The nature and materials of construction must also be appropriate to t he purposes for which it is intended. Where new agricultural buildings are proposed next to or close to existing residential properties, care must be taken to ensure that there is no unacceptable adverse impact through any activity, although it must be b orne in mind that many farming activities require buildings which are best sited, in landscape terms, close to existing building groups in the rural landscape.
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 building must be used only for agricultural purposes.
