Why Was This Refused?
- ✓Fence visually out of keeping with streetscene of rendered walls and copings
- ✓Solid construction blocks drivers' sightlines at potential vehicle access point
- ✓Road safety risk to pedestrians and approaching vehicles
- ✓Site adjacent to pedestrian crossing with disabled access ramp
- ✓A compliant lower, open fence could have been erected without planning permission
- ✓highways
The application sought retrospective permission for a fence erected at the front boundary of a converted former baker's shop on Main Road in the heart of Onchan village. The street is characterised by rendered walls with copings rather than fencing, and the site sits directly adjacent to a pedestrian crossing with a disabled access ramp and traffic signal pole. Two decisive concerns led to refusal. First, the fence was visually out of keeping with a streetscene dominated by rendered masonry walls, making it an incongruous and eye-catching feature contrary to design policies GP2b and GP2c.
The fence was refused on two grounds: it was visually out of keeping with a streetscene of rendered walls and copings, and it was tall enough to block the sightlines of drivers leaving the site, posing a risk to pedestrians and other road users. A lower, more open fence could have been erected without permission, but the fence as built exceeded those limits in both height and solidity.
Refusal Reasons
- ✕The proposed fencing is considered to be visually out of keeping in a streetscent which comprises mainly rendered walling with copings atop. Whilst the Permitted Development Order makes provision for fencing in the position of that proposed, such may not be over 1m in height and should have spaces between the vertical elements of the fence which would create a less solid and eye-catching feature as is proposed. The fencing is thus considered contrary to the provisions of General Policies 2b and 2c of the Strategic Plan.
- ✕The proposed fencing is of such a height as to prevent drivers of any vehicles which may be exiting the site to be able to see approaching vehicles or pedestrians. As such the fencing would be detrimental to road safety and General Policies 2h and 2i of the Strategic Plan.
