Conversion of barns to an activity centre with car parking , drive widening and entrance alterations

Why Was This Approved?

• ✓Expansion of existing permitted leisure use at a farm already operating laser games and paintball
• ✓Additional barn to be used for activities including children's playland and pop video production
• ✓Traffic impact judged unlikely to be significantly greater than already-approved uses
• ✓Operating hours restricted to 11am–6.30pm, with no use on Sundays
• ✓Car parking area required to be surfaced before the use begins
• ✓parking
• ✓access

The application concerned Ballakaighen Farm on the A2 Whitebridge Road in Onchan, where the owner had previously received permission to use a milking parlour barn for laser games and land for paintball. The laser games operation had proved popular, and the applicant sought to extend leisure use to a further barn to the north, for activities including making pop videos and a children's playland area. The proposal also included car parking, widening of the drive, and alterations to the entrance. Neighbours opposite the entrance objected on grounds of privacy intrusion. The officer considered that the additional activities were unlikely to generate significantly more traffic than the already-approved uses, and the application was approved subject to four conditions, including restricted opening hours (11am to 6.30pm, not on Sundays) and a requirement to surface the car parking area before use begins.

The Planning Committee approved the application, judging that the expanded leisure use of the barns was acceptable given the existing permissions on the site and that the additional traffic impact would be minimal. Conditions were imposed to control operating hours and ensure the car park was properly surfaced before the use commenced.

Conditions (4)

1. 1

   Condition 1

   The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

2. 2

   Condition 2

   This permission relates to the use of the building shown in drawings received on 18th February, 2004 for indoor play facilities and activities as described in the applicant’s letters received on 10th and 17th May, 2005, together with the access and lane improvements shown in drawings received on 14th April, 2005. In addition the access improvements must include the lowering of the roadside hedge to a height not exceeding 0.5m and removing all vegetation up to this height within the visibility splay.

3. 3

   Condition 3

   The activities building may only be open and available for use between the hours of 11am and 6.30pm with no such use on a Sunday.

4. 4

   Condition 4

   Prior to the commencement of the use of the site as approved, the car parking area must be paved, or at least levelled and blinding surfaced.

Documents (34)