26 July 2010 · Committee
Isle Of Man Education, Victoria Road School, School Lane, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1ba
Permission was granted for significant alterations and an extension to Victoria Road Primary School in Castletown, Isle of Man. The works included a new sports and multipurpose hall with changing facilities, a community room, additional classrooms, kitchen facilities, permanent nursery provision, and a new parking area with access. The school sits within a residential area, accessed from School Lane, with playing fields to the east and residential properties on several sides. The Planning Committee considered the principle of extending the school, the visual impact on the local character, and the effect of the new built form and any increased activity on neighbouring residents. The application was approved by the Planning Committee on 26 July 2010, subject to six conditions, in line with the officer's recommendation.
The Planning Committee approved the application on 26 July 2010, subject to six conditions. The officer had recommended approval, and the committee agreed. Key issues considered included whether extending the school was acceptable in principle, the visual impact on the surrounding residential area, and the effect of the new building and increased activity on nearby residents.
Permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools and institutions of higher education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and associated Open Space.
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Community Policy 5: Permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools and institutions of higher education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated Open Space. 10.11 Community Health Care Facilities 10.11.1 Health care facilities such as nursing homes, residential homes, or training centres are usually sited within residential areas, but can generate activity and traffic which has detrimental effects on the amenity and character of these areas. The following policy is therefore adopted.
seeks to ensure the best use of land
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Strategic Policy 1: Development should make the best use of resources by: (a) optimising the use of previously developed land, redundant buildings, unused and under -used land and buildings, and re - using scarce indigenous building materials; (b) ensuring efficient use of sites, taking into account the needs for access, landscaping, open space (1) and amenity standards; and (c) being located so as to utilise existing and planned infrastructure, facilities and services. 4.2.2 In pursuance of (c) abo ve, the Department will, when formulating its programme for the preparation of new Area Plans, have particular regard to: (a) the availability of mains drainage connected to IRIS or other mains systems; (b) securing the future viability of rural primary schools; (c) the public investment in the Island's highway, bus, railway and tramway networks; (d) the provision and availability of water; and (e) community facilities. 4.3 Environment 4.3.1
requires new development to make a positive contribution to the Island
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Strategic Policy 5: New development, including individual buildings, should be designed so as to make a positive contribution to the environment of the Island. In appropriate cases the Department will require planning applications to be supported by a Design Statement which will be required to take account of the Strategic Aim and Policies. 4.4 Economy 4.4.1 The Spatial Strategy identifies the Major Employment Areas around the Island. While the majority of business and employment is focused around the Douglas Metropolitan Area, there are other major employment areas at Castletown, the Airport/Freeport, Peel, Ramsey and Jurby. The Department considers the distribution of employment areas provides a spread of employment opportunities around the Island. While recognising the opportunities for small scale local employment within existing centres it is considered new employment should, in the main, be concentrated within existing settlements or those major employment areas referred to in the Island Spatial Strategy and illustrated on the Key Diagram. Existing Local and new Area Plans will provide detailed boundar ies for these areas. From time to time Government may judge it appropriate to offer financial incentives to encourage economic activity or investment in particular parts of the Island.
requires that new development minimise car journeys, makes best use of public transport and encourages pedestrian movement
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Strategic Policy 10: New development should be located and designed such as to promote a more integrated transport network with the aim to: (a) minimise journeys, especially by private car; (b) make best use of public transport; (c) not adversely affect highway safety for all users, and (d) encourage pedestrian movement (1) Business Park is defined in Appendix 1 4.6 Social 4.6.1 The provision of an adequate supply of housing to meet the needs of the wider community is essential; this is in addition to the need to replace existing substandard or poor quality dwellings. Therefore;
The policy allows for development in accordance with the land-use zoning subject to various criteria
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
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
advocates that an assessment of sport and recreation provision should be made in each Area Plan
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Recreation Policy 1: Area Plans should incorporate an assessment of the indoor and outdoor sport and recreation needs of the plan area, and the wider context and include proposals to: retain existing sporting facilities and open space provision unless alternative provision of equivalent community benefit and of equivalent or better accessibility is made available; identify suitable sites to make good any deficiency in provision both for existing and future residents of the area; and ensure appropriate provision is made as part of any proposed residential development, in accordance with the Open Space Standards set out in Appendix 6 to the Plan, related to the needs generated by the development, unless the specific housing provision within the development justifies a reduced provision in relation to specific types of open space requirement. 10.3.5 In certain circumstances it may be beneficial to allow the redevelopment of areas of underused, poorly maintained or inappropriately located open space. Development on such areas will only be permitted where alternative provision can be made. However, the new open space must be easily accessible to the local community and be at least equiv alent in terms of type, quantity and quality to that which is being replaced.
provides for the presumption against the loss of open space or a recreational facility unless alternative provision of equivalent or better accessibility is made available
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Recreation Policy 2: Development which would adversely affect, or result in the loss of Open Space or a recreation facility that is or has the potential to be, of recreational or amenity value to the community will not be permitted except in the following circumstances: (a) where alternative provision of equivalent community benefit and of equivalent or better accessibility is made available; and (b) where there would be an overall com munity gain from the development, and the particular loss of the open space or recreation facility would have no significant unacceptable effect on local open space or recreation provision or on the character or amenity of the area. 10.3.6 In the case of residential developments for 10 or more dwellings, the Department proposes to adopt the following general standards (which refer to the area required per 1000 head of population): Recreational Open Space Sports Pitches 1.8 ha Children's Play Space 0.6 ha Amenity Space 0.8 ha 10.3.7 These general standards will be applied having regard to the following circumstances: (i) the size, type, and particular needs of the resident population in question; (ii) the needs of visitors to the area; and (iii) the proximity and availability of existing Open Space, including the foreshore, public glens and parks, and school fields which may be available for public use outside of school hours. More detail is set out in Appendix 6. 10.3.8 The Department has therefore adopted the following policy such as to plan positively for the provision of well-designed recreational and amenity space.
requests that new community facilities are located to serve the local population and are accessible to non-car users
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Community Policy 2: New community facilities should be located to serve the local population and be accessible to non -car users, and should where possible re-use existing vacant or underused buildings. 10.7.2 Local community facilities are important in providing for local communities without the need for travel and should be retained unless the site or premises are no longer suitable for the current or an alternative community use. Developers will be expected to demonstrate that the potential to use the site or building for other community uses has been investigated.
seeks to ensure that the highway network is capable of accommodating the vehicle and pedestrian journeys generated by the development
Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007
Transport Policy 4: The new and existing highways which serve any n ew development must be designed so as to be capable of accommodating the vehicle and pedestrian journeys generated by that development in a safe and appropriate manner, and in accordance with the environmental objectives of this plan. 11.3.2 Notwithstanding policies within this plan which encourage travel by means other than private car it is anticipated that the number of vehicles using the Island's roads will continue to increase. This increase in demand is likely to lead to a greater need for road impro vements in order that travel can take place in a safe, effective, and environmentally acceptable manner. The Department of Transport will continue to assess the need for such improvements to public highways and undertake works where appropriate, with much of the improvement within existing roads carried out under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development) Order2005. The need for improvements to the Island's highway network must be balanced against the environmental objectives of this plan.
permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated Open Space.
Draft Southern Plan
Condition 1
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Condition 2
No development may commence until there has been approved by the Planning Authority a scheme of landscaping.
Condition 3
All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping must be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the completion of the development or the occupation of the dwellings, whichever is the sooner. Any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed, or become seriously damaged or diseased must be replaced in the next planting season with others of a similar size and species.
Condition 3
This permission relates to the alterations, erection of extension to provide sports/multipurpose hall with associated changing facilities, community room, classrooms and kitchen facilities and incorporation of permanent nursery provision, creation of parking and new access as shown in plans: K213/P/10-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 and K213/P/10-20, 21, 22, 30, 31; K213/P/11-01, 02; K213/P/12-01, 02.
Condition 4
The sports hall and community room shall not be open for use outside of the hours of 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Condition 5
Notwithstanding the details submitted regarding external lighting a further plan shall be submitted and approved by the Planning Authority and the development carried out only in accordance with those details.