21 December 2006 · Delegated
Ballavale New Farmhouse, Ballavale Road, Santon, Isle Of Man, IM4 1eh
The proposal was for a detached structure providing covered parking for three vehicles with living accommodation above at Ballavale Farmhouse, a property set within a Woodland designation under the Isle of Man Planning Scheme. The accommodation was designed as a self-contained two-bedroom unit, not reliant on the main house for any amenities, and rising to almost two full storeys. Although the building was partially dug into the site — appearing single-storey from the rear — it remained a sizeable structure comparable in scale and space to a new dwelling. The decisive planning concern was that the proposal was tantamount to creating a new residence in the countryside. The local authority and the Society for the Preservation of the Manx Countryside and the Environment both objected on this basis. Tying occupation to the main house by condition was considered insufficient given the unit's fully self-contained nature and its appearance as a standalone dwelling.
The application was refused because the proposed building, despite being described as a garage with ancillary accommodation, functioned and appeared as a self-contained two-bedroom dwelling. It was not genuinely ancillary to the main house, did not depend on it for any amenities, and the site lies in an area not designated for new residential development.
Refusal Reasons
