Officer Planning Report Recommendation

Planning Report And Recommendations {{table:153355}} {{table:153356}} {{table:153357}} {{table:153358}} {{table:153359}} ### Considerations ### Written Representations ### Consultations

Officer's Report

The Site

The site represents the curtilage of an existing commercial premises on the northern side of Station Road in the heart of Port Erin. the premises are presently being used as a newsagent's.

Planning Status

The site lies within an area of on the Port Erin Local Plan which was adopted by Tynwald in 1990 where retail development should be directed and concentrated in accordance with the Local Plan's Written Statement (Section 2).

Planning History

Planning permission was sought and permitted for the change of use from storage to showrooms under PA 91/1500.

The Proposal

Proposed now is the replacement of the existing shopfront. The existing is a fairly standard shopfront with large expanses of glass to the ground level plinth with a tile side surround and solid panel over the top.

The proposed shopfront will be more interesting with four vertically proportioned elements with square top lights with arch-heads. The whole shopfront will be constructed in powder-coated aluminium in a red colour to match the existing (which is more burgundy than bright red) and replacement of the existing tile surround with new tiles.

Assessment

The proposed shopfront is more imaginative and more attractive than the existing and the proposal will result in an improvement in the streetscene. The step up is relatively low - 100mm but may prove to be inaccessible to unassisted wheelchair users. A note to this effect may be helpful although the proposal is the same in this respect as the existing situation and the 100mm is lower than the maximum 150mm recommended in the RADAR guidelines for stepped accesses. A ramped access would not be possible without using part of the public highway.

Party Status

The Department of Transport and the local authority are, by virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2005, paragraph 6 (5) (c) and (d), considered "interested persons" and as such should be afforded party status.

The Disability Access Officer raises issues of which are relevant to planning (Planning Circular 1/91) and as such should be afforded party status in this instance.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 16.01.2007

Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal

• : Notes attached to refusals

C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.

C 2. This permission relates to the replacement of the existing shopfront as shown in drawing reference 843.1 received on 11th December, 2006.

C 3. The colour of the new shopfront must match that of the existing unless otherwise authorised by the Planning Authority.

N 1.

The applicant is encouraged to ensure that the principal access to the shop is usable by all, including unassisted wheelchair users.

I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular Nos 44/05 (Delegation of Functions to Director of Planning and Building Control) and 47/05 (Delegation of Functions to Senior Planning Officer)

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 10/1/07

Signed : M. I. McCauley Director of Planning and Building Control