Rationale in Support Application

Rational In Support Of Planning Application

Partial Demolition Of Farm House And Conversion From Domestic Dwelling To Holiday Accommodation

BALLAKERKEY FARM, SHORE ROAD, GLEN MAYE, ISLE OF MAN.

In September 2003 planning permission was sought and later granted for us to build a replacement farmhouse on the land adjacent to the original building. At this time a condition was made that the old farmhouse should be demolished upon the completion of the new building.

Work on our new farmhouse has been progressing since May 2004 and it is anticipated that completion of our new house will be in early April 2005.

Since being granted permission for the new build, we have spent considerable amounts of time and money in order to establish Ballakerkey as a well maintained farm, thriving tourist business and attractive part of Glen Maye.

Farming is currently undertaken by a local tenant, who uses the land to raise livestock. Tourism at Ballakerkey is related to the rental of "Waterfall Barn". This is a self-catering tourist property, which we converted from a redundant farm building in 2003. Waterfall barn is currently one of only three Manx properties in the West of the Island to be rated by the IOM Tourist Board as Five Star. It has been featured in Manx Life Magazine where it was described as "stunningly attractive holiday accommodation" (Manx Life Style Magazine Vol. 7no.3)

Tourism is our primary business, however we have strong feeling for the tradition and culture of rural life on the Isle of Man, and so look to preserve Ballakerkey, with its group of traditional buildings.

Income generated from Tourism has allowed us to improve the surrounding environment for the benefit of our guests, our tenant farmer, ourselves and for the greater general public who visit Glen Maye.

Since commencing operations as a tourist provider we have been staggered by the interest in our property from prospective clients. In our first full season we were fully booked from March to October. We are currently booked for the whole 2005 season and have been since before Christmas. We regularly have to turn people away from staying with us due to lack of availability. We estimate from our enquires that we could have booked Waterfall Barn three times over during the peak season and much of the rest of the year.

It is with this background in mind that we sought the advice and support of the Planning Department and the IOM Tourist Board with the view to amend the condition to demolish the original Manx Farmhouse.

It is not our intention to retain the Farmhouse as a domestic property. We propose to restore the original building. The building is over 150 years old and internally has many original features still intact, including a fine example of a traditional Manx fireplace. Over the years poor quality extensions have been added to the property. We would like to restore the building to its original style. This would necessitate the demolition of two thirds of the existing building and the landscaping of the surrounding areas.

We have obtained written support for this proposal from the Tourist Board and we have discussed our ideas with Brian Sindon of the Planning Department, who expressed his opinion that it was the ideal location for tourism. Following further consultation with the Planning Department it was suggested that detailed plans be submitted for consideration.

We feel our proposal makes good common sense on a number of levels. It will benefit many groups; preserving a piece of Manx heritage for the future and will have a positive effect on the environment. It also fulfils most of the condition placed upon us in relation to demolition.

We therefore submit this rationale in support of the Partial demolition of Ballakerkey Farmhouse and the conversion from domestic dwelling to self-catering holiday accommodation.

Mr & Mrs A.J.W. Scarlett