Dandara Supporting Statement

Dandara Commercial Ltd

Statement of Supporting Information

Erection of 2 Buildings Containing Industrial Starter Units, Isle of Man Business Park, Cooil Road, Braddan

1. The site is a vacant development plot within the Isle of Man Business Park, located immediately to the north of the Securicor site and between the MEA and the Barley Field industrial development, and it is served by existing highways and drainage infrastructure. Approval to set out this part of the Business Park was granted under PA 90/4155, following the approval of the Business Park masterplan under PA 89/4166.

1. The Barley Field industrial development which adjoins the eastern boundary of the site has been developed over the past two years and is now moving towards becoming substantially complete, with the final available plot being the subject of negotiation with a potential user. Two phases of industrial starter units have been completed on the Barley Field, and demand for this type of use remains so strong that the names of potential users are being kept on a waiting list. The site now proposed for development directly adjoins Barley Field industrial units and the new units would complement that existing use.

1. The approved uses of the Business Park include industrial and corporate HQ businesses, with the latter generally being located adjacent to the main spine road on the western side of the Park and this will be continued when the vacant plots opposite the Scottish Provident building are developed. The area on the eastern side of the Business Park is however characterised by uses of a more industrial nature, including engineering and distribution businesses, and the development of the site as now proposed would be in keeping with those uses.

1. One of the elements which has contributed to the strong demand for the Barley Field industrial units is affordability for the user, and the layout of the proposed development follows a similar form in order to maintain this factor. As such the car parking is provided at a ratio of 1 space for every 40 sq metres of nett floorspace and the site coverage by buildings is approximately

32%, which reflect more the layouts of the adjoining Barley Field development rather than those of the main part of the Business Park. The buildings however have been designed to present a modern, high quality appearance that is distinct from those on the Barley Field and more in keeping with the Business Park character, whilst at the same time remaining affordable and practical to use.

1. Whilst the site is within the boundaries of the Isle of Man Business Park, demand for industrial units of the type and form recently developed on the adjoining Barley Field site has proved to be significantly stronger than the need for a large single user on the site that would replicate the current pattern of Business Park development, as evidenced by the fact that the site has remained undeveloped for some time. Given that;

• the use is in accordance with the Business Park masterplan and in keeping with the character of this part of the Business Park;
• there is a need for industrial units to satisfy current demand, particularly in the Douglas/Braddan area; and
• the buildings have been designed to reflect more closely the form of those on the Business Park rather than the Barley Field,

then the proposed development will have the benefit of providing industrial units in a form that allows them to be affordable and practical to use without having a detrimental impact upon the use or character of the Business Park.