Officer Report

Application No.: 15/01235/B Applicant: Kirree Joy Ronan Proposal: Installation of replacement front door Site Address: 39 Mill Street Castletown Isle of Man IM9 1AG Case Officer : Miss Melissa McKnight Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE APPLICATION SITE - 1.1 The application site is the residential curtilage of No. 39 Mill Street, a two storey mid terraced dwelling sited on the eastern side of Mill Street in Castletown. The site also lies within the Castletown Conservation Area.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL - 2.1 This current planning application seeks approval for the replacement of the front door with a new anthracite grey composite door with two upper and one arched top light. The existing door is white timber with a squared top light.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 The application site has not been the subject of any previous planning applications that are considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application.

4.0 PLANNING POLICY - 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site is in an area zoned as Predominantly Residential under the Area Plan for the South 2013. As previously mentioned, the application site is within Castletown Conservation Area. - 4.2 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application:

General Policy 2 states: "Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development:

• (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief;
• (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them;
• (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape;
• (d) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality;
• (e) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption." Environmental Policy 35 states:

"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."

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS - 5.1 Castletown Commissioners have no objection to the current planning application (24/11/2015). - 5.2 The Department of Infrastructure Highway Services have indicated that there is no highway interest (20/11/2015).

6.0 ASSESSMENT - 6.1 Conservation ensures the protection of something from damage, deterioration or even development by an act of preservation. Environment Policy 35 sets out the policy in regards to development within a Conservation Area. The policy states that development would only be permitted within a Conservation Area if the development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area and the area is protected against inappropriate development. - 6.2 Although the door would be composite, there is a mix of door finishes, as well as window frames, along Mill Street and therefore what is proposed under this scheme is deemed acceptable. The proposed replacement door is not considered to detract from the appearance of the main dwelling; in fact the replacement door is considered to be a significant improvement over the existing and would enhance the appearance of the property as viewed within the street scene.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION - 7.1 Overall, it is concluded that the planning application is in accordance with General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 and as such it is recommended that the planning application be permitted.

8.0 PARTY STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent;
• (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested;
• (c) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considered material; (e) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated.

With effect from 1 June 2015, the Transfer of Planning & Building Control Functions Order 2015 amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 to give effect to the meaning of the word 'Department' to be the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unless otherwise directed by that Order.

Recommendation Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 07.12.2015

Conditions and Notes for Approval: C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This approval relates to Location Plan and Proposed door details all date stamped as received 10th November 2015.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Director of Planning and Building Control in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 04.12.2015 Determining officer

Signed : M GALLAGHER Michael Gallagher Director of Planning and Building Control

Customer note

This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.