24 November 2006 · Delegated
Methodist Church, Arbory Street, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1ln
This application sought permission to remove a redundant chimney stack and re-roof the Methodist Church Hall on Arbory Street, Castletown, with Welsh slate. The application was refused on 24 November 2006. The decision turned on the chimney stack removal. The building is considered to be of registerable quality, and the applicant did not provide sufficient justification for removing the chimney. Its removal would alter the appearance of the building in a way that harms its character. The site sits within a Conservation Area, and the change in appearance resulting from the chimney's removal was also found to be detrimental to the character and appearance of that area.
The application was refused because there was no sufficient justification for removing the chimney stack. The building is considered to be of registerable quality, and removing the chimney would harm its character. The change would also be detrimental to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area in which the building sits.
Refusal Reasons
Planning Policy Statement 1/01
POLICY CA/1 IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIAL CHARACTER It is the quality and interest of areas, rather than that of individual buildings which should be the prime consideration in identifying conservation areas. Features such as:- • The historic street pattern and definition of property boundaries; • A particular mix or variety of uses; • The use of materials or styles local to the particular area, or the island; • The quality of "period" architecture; • The quality and detail of contemporary buildings; • The survival of building types or features, such as shop fronts, street furniture, decorative ironwork; • The presence and form of hard and soft landscaping; • The quality of enclosure, spaces between buildings and vistas along streets; • The presence of green open spaces and trees as "breathing spaces"; • The presence of water in the landscape: this might be in the form of a stream, river, weir or waterfall, dub or pond, lake, estuary, harbour or coastline. Other physical features, not listed above, may also make a major contribution to the over all interest of a locality. Conservation area designation should take account of and recognise the wide variety of qualities, including the historic development of the neighbourhood, which can all serve to be important in making up the unique and special character of an area. There are at present ten conservation areas in the Island and whilst Registration focuses on the merits and protection of individual buildings, conservation area designation is the main means whereby the special architectural quality or local character of an area may be preserved and enhanced for our present enjoyment and that of generations to come.
Planning Policy Statement 1/01
POLICY CA/2 SPECIAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS When considering proposals for the possible development of any land or buildings which fall within the conservation area, the impact of such proposals upon the special character of the area, will be a material consideration when assessing the application. Where a development is proposed for land which, although not within the boundaries of the conservation area, would affect its context or setting, or views into or out of the area; such issues should be given special consideration where the character or appearance of a conservation area may be affected.
