Planning Justification Statement

Ballabunt Croft Cooil Road Braddan Isle of Man IM4 2AQ

1900978

3 September 19

Planning & Building Control Directorate, Department Enviroment, Food & Agriculture, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2SF.

Dear Sirs,

I would like to add the following information to help demonstrate why we would like your permission to build a storage shed on land at our property.

Our family have a long term connection with motorsport. Unfortunately I have health issues which means I can no longer compete in local events (rallying/motocross). I have therefore turned my spare time into classic car collection and restoration. I currently have a number of classic cars and am hoping to build on this collection, and whilst they won’t be in use each and every day, they will require some degree of restoration/ maintenance.

The classic cars currently in my collection are a 1977 Ford Escort RS1800, 1954 Ford Zephyr Zodiac Mk1 which belonged to my father (currently in my mothers garage on Bray Hill) and a Mini van which my brother and I were hoping to have had restored for my father before he passed away. Unfortunately with the family business being so busy we were unable to get it done. This vehicle is in my brothers garage at present, but he requires the room for his own cars. (It is still at the stage as in the photo below) The final car is a very low mileage 2006 Ford Fiesta ST150. My insurance company suggest it would be beneficial to have the vehicles in one place rather than on various sites.

My family business is a garage in Onchan which my late Father and Mother started over 47 years ago. The garage business is very busy and over the years our personal use of the facilities has become more difficult with the equipment and space being occupied on a full time bases. I am therefore unable to store any cars there or carry out any jobs other than quick fixes. Please note that that the new shed would be 100% for personal use and will have no connection to the family business.

There is an existing three car garage next to the house which currently houses the 1977 Ford Escort, lawn tractor, smaller mowers, quad, log splitter and various other landscape maintenance equipment.

We would ideally like to use this garage to house our everyday cars (we have two cars in daily use and our eldest daughter will also be driving next year). The weather here at Ballabunt Croft can be quite extreme especially over the winter months. Being at the top of a hill the wind here can be very damaging with a few roof tiles already having been blown around last winter, just missing the cars parked on the driveway.

The location and design of the building has been carefully considered and would sit at a reduced level within a densely planted paddock that provides excellent screening from the road and public views and is within close proximity to the building cluster and is lower in height than the dwelling itself. Further to consultation with Mr Andrew Igoea the Government Arborist, it has been established that to try and reduce the amount of driveway, we propose to access through the tree belt local to the existing driveway and intend (on Mr Igoea's advice) to plant additional trees. I was felt that on balance the loss of the fir trees and planting of new high quality trees was the preferred option. A condition / suggestion to implement would be valued.

There has previously been permission approved for a stable block in the area of our proposed site. (application no. 96/01427/B)

In writing this statement, we are hopeful the department will look favorably on our proposal and should anything further be required, please don't hesitate to make contact.

Yours faithfully Kevin & Voirrey Minay.