29 January 2013 · Delegated
27, Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1as
The application site occupies a prominent corner position at Parliament Street and Tower Street in Ramsey town centre. The three-storey building has commercial use at ground floor level, accessed from Tower Street. The proposal involved a change of use from a Class 1 retail shop to a Class 2 estate agency (financial and professional services), with no physical alterations to the building proposed. The officer assessed the surrounding context, noting that Parliament Street already includes an estate agent on the opposite corner of the block, alongside a variety of shops and two cafes and restaurants. Given this existing mix of uses, the officer concluded that adding a further estate agency would not undermine the retail character of the area and would continue to contribute to the mixed-use nature of the town centre designation.
The change of use was approved because the surrounding area already contains a varied mix of commercial uses, including an existing estate agency nearby. The officer judged that a further estate agency at this location would not harm the retail character of the town centre and would remain consistent with its mixed-use designation. The proposal complied with local plan policy and no physical changes to the building were required.
Policy R/TC/P1 Retail Uses
n space. It is recommended that the D.L.G.E., in consultation with the Commissioners, should seek to improve and enhance the amount and quality of open space within the town centre (reference: Policy R/TC/P16). It is also considered that improvements to advertising and signage can enhance the visual qualities of the town centre and, where appropriate, agreed measures should be implemented at the earliest opportunity (reference: Policy R/TC/P17). ## Policies and Recommendations
Condition 1
The use must be taken up within four years of the date of this notice in order for this approval to remain valid after that time.
Condition 2
This approval relates to the change of use of the premises to an estate agency or any other use included within Class 2 - Financial and professional services - of the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development) Order 2012, Schedule 4.
