28 May 2015 · Delegated
5, Arbory Road, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1na
Permission was granted for the installation of a replacement rear ground floor window at 5 Arbory Road, Castletown, Isle of Man. The property is a terraced dwelling on the southern side of Arbory Road. As viewed from the rear it is three storeys, with a flat-roofed dormer, a small balcony, and a flat-roofed annex. The rear elevation already contains a mixture of window sizes, shapes, and styles, including white uPVC frames. The central planning question was whether the replacement window would preserve or enhance the appearance and character of the property. The case officer recommended approval, and the Director of Planning and Building Control approved the application on 28 May 2015, subject to one condition.
The application was approved on 28 May 2015 under delegated powers. The key planning question was whether replacing the existing rear ground floor window would preserve or enhance the appearance and character of the property. The officer recommended approval and the Director of Planning and Building Control agreed, granting permission subject to one condition.
Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character of appearance of the area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development.
What is proposed in any case replicates the existing and as such has a neutral effect on the building, taken as preserving the existing character and thus complying with Environment Policy 35.
Environment Policy 35: Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development. 7.30 Development adjacent to Conservation Areas 7.30.1 It is often the case that important views into and out of a Conservation Area can contribute significantly to its character. It is necessary to assess the impact any development adjacent to conservation areas may have on such views.
Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man
This echoes the provisions of Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man.
the Replacement of Windows
in assessing this, one should have regard to the provisions of Planning Circular 1/98 which differentiates between windows which are publicly visible and those which are not.
Condition 1
The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
installation of a replacement window in the front elevation
replacement windows in the rear elevation
The latter did not include the windows in the rear annex. It was concluded that as the windows in the rear elevation were not readily visible from the public highway the proposed use of uPVC in a non-traditional style was acceptable.
