St Ninians Church Planning Statement
1327/05/8.6.1/GL/dmh
Planning Department Department of Local Government and The Environment Murray House Mount Havelock DOUGLAS IM1 2SF
1 February 2006
Dear Sirs
Re: St. Ninian's Church – Proposed Creation of a two storey internal space
We have pleasure in submitting this detailed planning application for the creation of additional community space within the existing St. Ninian's Church building.
As "background" and as a "statement of need" for this proposed additional facility we would refer you to the attached article which appeared in the "Isle of Man Church Leader" in August 2005.
The article outlines the following faults with the existing church hall:
- Environmental Health have refused permission for certain activities to be undertaken in the hall
- Disabled access was not achievable
- Health and Safety requirements could not be met
- It would cost £300,000 to bring the building up to an acceptable standard
- There will be a continuing maintenance requirement on the existing building even if remedial works are carried out
- The existing Church Hall is beyond economic repair
Consideration was given to constructing a new hall either as a stand-alone building next to the Church or as an extension to the Church. However, it is believed that either approach would be detrimental to the external appearance of the Church in its prominent position.
In addition to this, any building standing close to or annexed to the Church would required to be constructed in similar materials to the Church and would be beyond the budget available to the congregation.
The proposals to create additional space within the Church have many advantages, namely:
- The space will be formed in an area that is currently surplus to requirements.
- The new space will be sited immediately adjacent to the place of worship and will assist the integration of young into the Church community during Sunday school activities.
architects development consultants interior designers project managers planning supervisors
- The effective reducing of the overall volume of Church will assist in the effective heating of the main space.
The historic and architectural importance of this registered building is recognised and the scheme has been developed to maintain as much of the visual impact as possible within the Church and to avoid the need to inflict any permanent and lasting damage on the building fabric. The proposed structure of the new space will sit within the envelope of the existing Church. An "isolation" layer will be laid on the existing floor of the Church onto which will sit the free-standing framework for the new space. All practical measures will be taken to allow, if required in the future, for the proposed structure to be removed and the Church returned to its current state.
A high proportion of glazing will be used internally to maintain, as much as possible, the visual integrity of the main volume of the Church.
The congregation of St. Ninian's Church have concluded that this proposal best satisfies their needs whilst accepting that the existing Church Hall is beyond economic repair. We have endeavoured to develop a scheme which is sympathetic both visually and physically to the Church building, whilst ensuring that these changes are reversible in the future without leaving a lasting detrimental legacy on the fabric of the building.
We trust that this provides sufficient information for your Department to determine this application. However, should you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact this office.
Yours faithfully
George Li For and on behalf of Cornerstone Architects
Enc.
