Planning Officer Report Recommendations

Case Officer: Miss S E Corlett Photo Taken: Site Visit: Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer's Report

The Site

1. The site is the curtilage of a property located on the corner of Parliament Street and Tower Street, in the heart of Ramsey's town centre. The property is a three storey property which has commercial use on the ground floor. There are two access ways into the ground floor, from Tower Street.

1. Parliament Street has an estate agent's on the other corner of the block (Cowley Groves on the corner of Parliament Street and Court Row) and in between a variety of shops and two cafes/restaurants.

The Proposal

1. Proposed is the change of use of the property from a shop (electrical items) to an estate agent's. Estate agencies fall under Class 2 of the Use Classes Order 2012 as a professional service as opposed to shops which constitute class 1. Banks and building societies fall within Class 2.

1. No changes to the building are proposed.

Planning Status And Policy

1. The site lies within an area of Mixed Use on the Ramsey Local Plan of 1999 and also within Ramsey's Conservation Area.

1. The Local Plan contains a policy, R/TC/P1 which states: "There will be a general presumption in favour of retention of retail uses at ground floor level in the main shopping streets (Peel Street, Bourne Place, Market Hill, Market Place, (West), Parliament Street (excluding Auckland Terrace), East Street, Parliament Square (East Side). Office uses (including finance related establishments) at ground floor level will not be permitted to occupy more than 30% of the street frontage in any one block between public and vehicular highways in these streets".

Planning History

1. Planning permission was granted for the installation of sliding sash windows under PA 05/00097 having previously been refused for casement windows under PA 00/01800. Permission was granted for the use of the first and second floors as office accommodation.

Representations

Application No.:	12/01686/C
Applicant:	Property Wise Limited
Proposal:	Change of use from retail to an estate agency
Site Address:	27 Parliament Street Ramsey Isle Of Man IM8 1AS

1. Highways Division indicate that they do not oppose the application.

Assessment

1. Due to the mix of uses within this part of the town, it is considered that having a further estate agent’s at this site would not undermine the retail character of the property and would still contribute a mix of uses which reflects the designation of the area as such. As such, it is considered that the proposed development accords with the prevailing local plan policy and is recommended for approval.

Party Status

1. The local authority, Ramsey Town Commissioners are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (d), considered an "interested person" and as such should be afforded party status.

1. The Department of Transport Highways and Traffic Division is now part of the Department of Infrastructure of which the planning authority is part. As such, the Highways and Traffic Division cannot be afforded party status in this instance.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 28.01.2013

Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal

• : Notes attached to refusals

C 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.

C 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.

I confirm that this decision accords with the appropriate Government Circular delegating functions to Director of Planning and Building Control / Development Control Manager/ Senior Planning Officer.

Determining officer (delete as appropriate)

Signed: G. H. van Anthony Holmes Senior Planning Officer

Signed: _________________________ Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control

Signed: _________________________ Jennifer Chance Development Control Manager