14 May 2013 · Committee
Ballakermeen High School, St. Catherines Drive, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 4be
The application sought permission to use the school's playing field at Ballakermeen High School, St Catherines Drive, Douglas, for temporary tented camping accommodation during TT week. The school campus is a large, broadly rectangular site, with main buildings to the north and playing fields to the south, surrounded by residential housing on all sides. The Department of Infrastructure approved the application, subject to five conditions. An amended site plan was submitted during the process. The officer recommended approval, and the committee's decision aligned with that recommendation. Key planning issues considered included whether the site was suitable in principle for a camp site, the potential effect on neighbouring residents' amenity, and access and parking arrangements given the school's existing one-way access system onto Westminster Drive and exit-only access onto St Catherines Drive.
The application was permitted by the committee, subject to five conditions. The officer had recommended approval, and the final decision was consistent with that recommendation. The main planning issues examined were the suitability of the location for a temporary camp site, impact on local residents, and the adequacy of access and parking arrangements.
Spatial Policy 1
The Douglas urban area will remain the main employment and services centre for the Island.
Spatial Policy 5
New development will be located within the defined settlements. Development will only be permitted in the countryside in accordance with General Policy 3.
General Policy 1
The determination of matters under Part 2 (Development Control) and Part 3 (Special Controls) of the 1999 Town and Country Planning Act shall have regard to the provisions of the Development Plan and all other material considerations.
General Policy 1: The determination of matters under Part 2 (Development Control) and Part 3 (Special Controls) of the 1999 Town and Country Planning Act shall have regard to the provisions of the Development Plan and all other material considerations. In this way, development will be directed towards sui table or preferred locations and away from unsuitable or undesirable locations. 6.1.3 Several planning issues and policies apply throughout the Strategic Plan. These are set out in this chapter rather than being repeated in each of the subsequent chapters. 6.2 Development within land-use zones
Business Policy 11
Tourism development must be in accordance with the sustainable development objectives of this plan; policies and designations which seek to protect the countryside from development will be applied to tourist development with as much weight as they are to other types of development. Within the rural areas there may be situations where existing rural buildings could be used for tourist use and Environment Policy 16 sets out the circumstances where this may be permitted.
Business Policy 11: Tourism development must be in accordance with the sustainable development objectives of this plan; policies and designat ions which seek to protect the countryside from development will be applied to tourist development with as much weight as they are to other types of development. Within the rural areas there may be (1) Tourism Strategy 2004 - 2008 Fit for the Future Department of Tourism and Leisure April 2004 situations where existing rural buildings could be used f or tourist use and Environment Policy 16 sets out the circumstances where this may be permitted.
Transport Policy 4
The new and existing highways which serve any new 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.
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.
Condition 1
This permission is for a temporary use only and the use shall not be carried out outside the dates of 30 May to 07 June 2013 inclusive. After the 07 June 2013 this permission shall expire.
Condition 2
This approval for the temporary use of the site for tented accommodation relates to the application form and supporting statement (dated 19 March 2013), both received on 26 March 2013, and the amended site plan received on 26 April 2013.
Condition 3
There shall be a maximum of 60 tents pitched within the site. There shall be no pitching of tents outside the area outlined green on the site plan received on 26 April 2013.
Condition 4
The vehicular access onto St. Catherine's Drive to the south west corner of the site shall be used for vehicular exit only and shall not be used for vehicular entry. There shall be no means of vehicular access directly onto Westbourne Drive to the east.
Condition 5
The parking area, as shown on the site plan received on 26 April 2013, shall not be used other than for the parking of vehicles in connection with the school and camping use hereby approved.
