Planning Statement and Photographs

0901685

Proposed New Duplex Apartment, At the rear of 6-8 Michael Street, Peel <br> for

Clearhomes (IOM) Ltd

Planning Statement And Photographs Of The Derelict Building

Job No. 6.1622

Prepared by:<br>McGarrigle + Jackson<br>19 Mount Havelock<br>Douglas<br>IMI 2QG<br>Tel: 01624628141<br>Fax: 629334<br>email: [email protected]<br>web: www.mcgarrigle-jackson.com

McGarrigle + Jackson architects and urban designers

The whole site for 6-8 Michael Street is owned by the Applicant Clearhomes (IOM) Ltd. The site area includes accommodation for a shop unit, with a duplex flat above no. 6 and two flats above No.8. At the rear of the property is a four-storey derelict building and a part-single/parttwo storey building with courtyards, accessed from Michael Street by a corridor with external door and to Douglas Street by a gated access.

The proposed development, the subject of this planning application is only for the refurbishment of the existing four-storey derelict building at the rear of 6-8 Michael Street Peel, to form a duplex apartment over three storeys of the building. The Applicant believes the reuse of a long-time derelict building for residential purposes is compatible with the Peel Planning Circular 6/89 residential policy to positively encourage refurbishment and amalgamation of properties in the town centre area for this use. The nature and style of this courtyard development is also compatible with other recent similar residential developments where they are located in courtyards off the main streets.

The derelict building has not been the subject of any known recent planning applications. The proposed new apartment will be refurbished to a high specification and most of the major structure will be retained and improved. It is the Applicant's intention to carry out works in a traditional style which is sympathetic to the existing building. The main rendered walls and roof coverings can be patch repaired. However the decayed or missing floors structure needs to be completely replaced. The existing windows which are beyond repair will be removed and replaced with upvc vertical sliding sash windows. The existing doors which are beyond repair will be replaced with upvc doors. New openings will be created on the east elevation for windows to the stairwell and bathroom and a new entrance door to the apartment.

Access to the entrance of the duplex apartment will be through the existing gated courtyard to Douglas Street. The works includes the replacement of the existing aluminium staircase with a new rendered concrete and wrought iron style staircase. The new main entrance to the apartment will be at first floor level from the new staircase. To ensure the Douglas Street courtyard is in keeping with the styles of other Peel alleys and courtyards, it will be resurfaced in a mixture of cobbles and natural stone paving slabs, and the existing walls will be repainted.

There are sufficient services / service connections available to the site. Manx Electricity Authority, Manx Water and Manx Telecom already service the site. The site is also serviced by both mains foul and surface water drainage, with manholes locally in the road. There is nearby mains gas also, with the potential to serve the new development if desired.

The surface water drainage will be taken into the existing drains on the site and discharged via the existing drains to the main sewers in Michael Stree. The discharge is the same as existing as no extra drainage area has been created by the development. The foul drainage will be connected via a new manhole over the existing sewer in the courtyard which discharges to the main sewer on Michael Street.

There is no space on the site that can be utilised as part of the development for parking. However there is the town centre car park which can be used for parking, and this is accessed from Douglas Street and is only on the other side of the road from this development. The Applicant is aware there is an allowance for discretion on parking standards for residential development in the town centre under clause 5.13 in the Peel Planning Circular 6/89 and the Isle of Man Strategic Plan Appendix 7, and requests that discretion be applied in this case. It is the Applicant's opinion the reuse of a long-term derelict building should outweigh the strict application of parking guidelines in this instance.

The Applicant respectfully requests the Planning Committee to grant planning approval for this application.

I. View of a typical upper level interior showing stone wall and spalling plaster. {{image:319832}}

1. Internal view of the roof structure which will be preserved where possible as part of the refurbishment.

1. Views of the exterior to the south-west elevation. The windows and doors are to be replaced and the walls are to be repaired and rendered, and painted.