Delegated Officer Recommendation 2010

Item For Delegated Consideration TO: Jennifer Chance, Senior Planning Officer FROM: Anthony Holmes, Planning Officer DATE: 13th January 2010 Re: PA 03/01412/B – Conversion of existing barn/workshop to tourist accommodation. Ellenbrook, Old Castletown Road, Braddan. The Senior Planning Officer is asked to consider a request to extend the date of expiry of the above approved planning application. Planning approval was originally granted on the 17th February 2004 and was due to expire on the 17th February 2008. The approval has already been granted one extension of time and is currently due to expire on the 13th February 2010. Under article 13 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005 the Department has power to extend the duration of a planning approval provided there are special circumstances to justify a longer period. In this respect, the applicant's agent has advised that work has not commenced due to a) their client being unsure whether to proceed with the scheme; and b) building control approval not yet being obtained. They state that it their client's intention to start building work in the summer once building control approval has been obtained. It is understood that a building control application is currently being prepared. In my view, neither of the reasons for work not commencing within the six years since planning approval was originally granted represent special circumstances in accordance with the order. Furthermore, since planning approval was originally granted there have been changes in planning policy through the adoption of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 and any original assessment of the structural capability of viable conversion of the building would be out of date. I therefore recommend that the request is dismissed. This is without prejudice to the submission of a planning application that seeks planning approval for the development. Signed Dated Signed Dated 3/2/10 Miss J Chance Senior Planning Officer