11 March 2010 · Delegated
Store, Lane From Foxdale Road To Store, The Hope, St Johns, Isle Of Man, IM4 3at
The proposal related to the Corporate Headquarters at The Hope, St Johns, a site within the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Ornamental Gardens as identified in the St Johns Local Plan. The original planning permission (08/00635/B) had included a long access ramp at the main entrance built to British Building Regulation standards. The applicant sought to omit this ramp and substitute a small stainless steel lifting platform, also built to British standards. The Access Officer, who had discussed the plans with the architects, agreed that the long ramp would be daunting for disabled users and that the platform lift represented a practical improvement. The officer assessed the proposal against General Policy 2 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, concluding that replacing the ramp with a compact lifting platform improved the building's appearance and better served the needs of less able people, in line with the Strategic Plan's objectives on access.
The application was permitted because the lifting platform was judged to be a better solution for disabled access than the long ramp it replaced, removing a feature that would have been daunting for disabled users while also improving the appearance of the building's entrance. The proposal was found to accord with the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007's objectives on access for less able people.
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted
General Policy 2: Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption. 6.3 Development outside of areas zoned for development
Condition 1
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Condition 2
This approval relates to the submitted Drawing Nos. 07/DAFF/640 - 800, 801, 802, 803 and 804 received on 8th January 2010.
