Construction of additional roads, car parking spaces, hard standing area and alterations to security fence and gate

Why Was This Approved?

• ✓Proposal to add roads, car parking, hard standing, and security fence alterations at the Manx Utilities Authority headquarters
• ✓Key concern was whether new hard standing and tree loss would harm the character and setting of the site
• ✓Original development was designed with landscaping as a significant feature and a 25% building coverage limit
• ✓Site has attractive landscaping and trees separating it from neighbouring properties
• ✓Application decided by delegated authority with officer recommendation to permit
• ✓character
• ✓trees
• ✓whether the additional areas of hard standing and the loss of trees detract from the setting of the buildings
• ✓taking into account that the development was originally intended to have no greater than 25% of the area covered in buildings and that landscaping was an important feature

Permission was granted for the construction of additional roads, car parking spaces, a hard standing area, and alterations to the security fence and gate at the Manx Utilities Authority Ballacottier Headquarters on the Isle of Man Business Park in Douglas. The site contains two main blocks — one for administration and one for maintenance and technical operations — along with existing landscaping and car parking. The premises were originally built in the early 1990s. The central planning question was whether the additional hard standing and any associated loss of trees would detract from the setting of the buildings, especially given that the original scheme was designed with landscaping as a key feature and a cap of no more than 25% of the site covered by buildings. The application was decided on a delegated basis. The officer recommended approval and permission was granted on 5 January 2015, subject to three conditions.

The application was permitted on a delegated basis. The key planning question was whether the additional hard standing and any loss of trees would harm the setting of the buildings, particularly given that the original development was designed with landscaping as an important feature and a limit of no more than 25% of the site covered by buildings. The officer recommended approval and permission was granted.

Policies Assessed (4)

Conditions (3)

1. 1

   Condition 1

   The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

2. 2

   Condition 2

   Prior to the commencement of any excavation or hard surfacing works, all trees which are to remain and which are within 2m of any proposed works must be appropriately protected from damage during works by the erection of protective fencing to create a protected area 2m from and around each tree trunk within which there may be no vehicles driven or parked and no materials stored. All such fencing must be retained for the duration of the engineering works. Any roots which are severed during works must be cut cleanly and protected using heavy gauge polythene if toxic materials are likely to come into contact with the roots.

3. 3

   Condition 3

   No approval is hereby granted to the removal of trees numbered 20, 21 and 22 on the submitted plans.

Planning History (4)

Documents (21)