Heritage Homes Response
The Secretary to the Planning Committee, The Department of Local Government and the Environment, Murray House, Mount Havelock, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 2SF
25th February 2004, Dear Sir / Madam, RECEIVED ON 25 FEB 2004 REPET OF THE SECRETARY Dear Sir / Madam,
Re: On Review - PA 03/01110 - Erection of block of 74 apartments with car parking and landscaping, corner of Premier Road and Mooragh Promenade, Ramsey.
I refer to your letter of 4th February, 2004 which invites further written representation to the Planning Committee in respect of the above. As the applicant Heritage Homes Ltd is satisfied with the initial decision of the Planning Committee, but we wish to take the opportunity to comment further upon the principal planning issues in respect of the application.
The site is within an area that the Ramsey Local Plan designates for residential or office use, and as such the proposed apartments development is in accordance with that zoning.
Policy R/R/P2 C of the Local Plan requires that any new building on the site is "designed to acknowledge the architectural style, scale, and massing of adjacent Victorian buildings". The provision of alternative types of accommodation on the site, such as bungalows as suggested by some third parties, would clearly be contrary to that policy.
Planning approval in principle has previously been granted under PA 96/1121 for the development of the site with an apartment building. The Appeal Inspector in that instance considered drawings of an apartment building of the same scale and general appearance as for that now being proposed and found them to be acceptable.
The relationship of the proposed building to neighbouring property is similar to that which exists between the buildings fronting onto the Promenade and some of the dwellings of Park Road and Premier Road. This was found to be acceptable for PA 96/1121 and has not materially altered for this current application.
HERITAGE HOMES LIMITED Park House, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM2 2SA Telephone (01624) 693300 Fax (01624) 693301 Sales Office Telephone (01624) 615000 Fax (01624) 615161 Email [email protected] Web www.dandara.com
Incorporated in the Isle of Man, Company Reg. No. 77089C Downtown, Seamus Nugent, Joe McLoughlin, Hugh McGanness, John Carr, Gary Leeming, Ciarán Downey, Seán McCallion
It is noted that the Department of Transport Highways Division is content with the access and parking arrangements for the development. The existing seafront properties do not have vehicular access onto the Promenade and in that respect the new development would follow suit. The Ramsey Town Commissioners are the drainage agent for the town, and have raised no objection either in that or any other regard.
Condition 3 of the initial approval notice requires work to take place in relation to Clover species found on the site. This is acceptable to the applicant and a meeting is currently being arranged between the interested parties to discuss the issue further.
There would not appear to be any valid planning issues in relation to the proposed development that would justify the refusal of the application and as such it is respectfully requested that the Planning Committee confirms its initial approval.
Yours faithfully,
David Humphrey Senior Planner