Erection of garage with storage over (amendment to PA 20/01170/B)

Strategic Plan

This application is considered to comply with General Policy 2 of the Strategic Plan.

General Policy 2: Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption. 6.3 Development outside of areas zoned for development

Principles of Developments

General Policy 1 states: "The determination of matters under Part 2 (Development Control) and Part 3 (Special Controls) of the 1999 Town and Country Planning Act shall have regard to the provisions of the Development Plan and all other material considerations."

General Policy 1: The determination of matters under Part 2 (Development Control) and Part 3 (Special Controls) of the 1999 Town and Country Planning Act shall have regard to the provisions of the Development Plan and all other material considerations. In this way, development will be directed towards sui table or preferred locations and away from unsuitable or undesirable locations. 6.1.3 Several planning issues and policies apply throughout the Strategic Plan. These are set out in this chapter rather than being repeated in each of the subsequent chapters. 6.2 Development within land-use zones

Visual Design

Strategic Policy 3 and Environment Policy 42 focus on the visual design of developments

Strategic Policy 3: Proposals for development must ensure that the individual character of our towns and villages is protected or enhanced by: (a) avoiding coalescence and maintaining adequate physical separation between settlements; and (b) having regard in the design of new development to th e use of local materials and character. 4.3.4 Most of our built heritage, our countryside, our coastline and our natural environment is of attraction, value and interest. Surveys commissioned by Government on the quality of life and the importance of heritage in the Isle of Man and internationally, have consistently shown that the historic landscape setting of the Isle of Man scores as t he single most significant factor for residents and visitors in supporting the concept of a specific and positive Manx identity. This "heritage identity" is a result of the combination of a rich diversity of historic sites and monuments, historic building s and residential settlements and a specific range of natural history attributes set within a predominantly rural landscape setting which links modern life to a sense of historic legacy and beauty, the retention of which is strongly supported by Government and the resident community. 4.3.5 The landscapes of the Island are very varied, and their nature and variety is the consequence of thousands of years of interaction between the natural and cultural aspects of the Island through human activity within the enviro nment and an innate respect for the natural and historic qualities they represent. 4.3.6 This landscape heritage is more than simply the sum of its parts. The combination of geology, geomorphology, wildlife, archaeology, history, traditional buildings and the natural settings for traditional activities and customs, combine in the rural and built environment to provide an inseparable element of "Manxness". It provides an overarching context which makes the landscapes of the Isle of Man unique and gives them the value which is acknowledged by those who live here and those who visit. The protection and promotion of this element within Manx society is an important element in central Government policy and the Strategic Plan, which both support the view that these v alued characteristics of the Isle of Man be acknowledged and protected for the future from inappropriate development. 4.3.7 This protection will apply to areas of heritage value, to sites of heritage value and to general traditional landscape settings within the Island which are deemed to contribute to the sense of the Island's heritage identity. Heritage landscape value will therefore be a consideration in all aspects of planning, with a view to retaining and enhancing this value wherever possible.

Visual Design

Strategic Policy 3 and Environment Policy 42 focus on the visual design of developments

pment. 8.13.2 The extent of formal open space with in settlement boundaries in the South is identified on the Proposals Map (Map 3) and Inset Maps (Maps 4-7). The Isle of Man Strategic Plan (Environment Policy 42) seeks to protect these open spaces and indicates that: 8.13.3 "Inappropriate backland development, and the removal of open or green spaces which contribute to the visual amenity and sense of place of a partic ular area will not be permitted.''

Safety and Security

Community Policy 7, 10 and 11 state that the design of new development must, as far as is reasonable and practicable, pay due regards to existing best practise

Community Policy 7: The design of new development and the extension and refurbishment of existing buildings and development must, as far as is reasonably practical, pay due regard to existing best practice so as to help prevent criminal and anti-social behaviour. 10.12.2 The Isle of Man Constabulary has suggested that neighbourhood police stations, where the public can meet police officers, are needed to improve community safety. In the majority of cases these will need to be provided within existin g communities as opportunities arise. Consideration should be given to incorporating such facilities in larger new developments in association with other community facilities.

Safety and Security

Community Policy 7, 10 and 11 state that the design of new development must, as far as is reasonable and practicable, pay due regards to existing best practise

Community Policy 10: Proposals for the layout and development of land will be permitted only where there is provided proper access for fire -fighting vehicles and adequate supplies of water for fire-fighting purposes. 10.13.3 Fire prevention can be improved via the development control processes, and the Department has for many years welcomed input to these processes from the Fire Safety Department. Accordingly,

Safety and Security

Community Policy 7, 10 and 11 state that the design of new development must, as far as is reasonable and practicable, pay due regards to existing best practise

Community Policy 11: The design and use of all new buildings and of extensions to existing buildings must, as far as is reasonable and practicable, pay due regard to best practice such as to prevent the outbreak and spread of fire. CHAPTER 11 TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES CONTENTS 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Public Transport 11.3 Highways and Traffic 11.4 Pedestrians 11.5 Car Parking 11.6 Airports and Airfields 11.7 Harbours 11.8 Drainage 11.9 Communications 11.10 Water Supply and Water Conservation CHAPTER 11 TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES 11.1 Introduction 11.1.1 Chapter 2 sets out the Government's Core Purpose and Aims and the Department's Strategic Aim. These policies include in particular the Core Purpose "To maintain and build on the high quality of life enjoyed by the Island's Community." and the aim "To protect and improve the quality of the environment." 11.1.2 The S trategic Objectives in Chapter 3 make reference to the need to develop a more integrated transport strategy which balances the growth in car usage with the promotion of more sustainable alternatives. 11.1.3 In land use planning terms this translates into a more sustainable pattern of development concentrating development in and around existing settlements. Modern society has become increasingly reliant on the private motor vehicle and derives benefits from it. But there is a price to be paid in terms of congestion, air pollution and noise and visual impact. At the same time the environment of the Island and our towns and settlements has evolved over many hundreds of years and in many cases is not capable of adapting to the further pressures of car access and usage without adverse impacts on the environment. 11.1.4 To balance these conflicting needs it is considered that a more integrated transport network needs to be developed to balance the growth in car usage with improvements to other more sustainable alternatives. Over time we need to move to a situation where those who need to travel can do so in a range of different ways wherever this is reasonable and practicable. To this end the Department of Tourism and Leisure considers that a significant cont ribution to maximize the utilization of existing Public Transport would be made if businesses and schools were encouraged to stagger the start and end of working days. The Department of Transport confirm that the staggering of school start times would also maximise the use of existing transport infrastructure both of highways and the bus fleet. The Department of Transport is jointly progressing, with the Department of Education, the concept of School Travel Plans, with the aim of reducing car journeys to and from schools. 11.1.5 Because of the critical link between the land use planning policies of the Development Plan and the transport policies of the Government it is considered essential to develop an Integrated Transport Strategy which will link these two activities which are so critical to developing more sustainable development. 11.1.6 The Government Plan has, within the Sound Infrastructure Aim, the objective "To promote an integrated transport strategy to meet the needs of the local community and visitors". 11.1.7 In 2006, the Department commissioned a Transport Study by consultants 'JMP' to study the effect of development on the highway system. This allowed the proposed Transport Policies to be assessed in the light of up to date surveys and analysis. A further transport assessment consisting of traffic surveys on the Strategic Links, has now been undertaken (2014) to ascertain the current traffic flows and the implications of traffic growth up to 2026. 11.1.8 The original JMP Report (published 2007) identified:  The main Strategic Links between the communities on the Island (the Centres referred to in the Spatial Strategy);  The status of those Links in terms of condition, capacity, congestion etc.; and  The expected impacts of the level of development proposed in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007. 11.1.9 The original Report (2007) identified the Strategic Links in the list below. The 2014 transport assessment which examined up to date traffic data made no change to this list:  A1 Douglas - Peel  A2 Douglas - Laxey  A2 Laxey - Ramsey  A3 Castletown - St Johns  A3/A4 Peel - Ramsey  A5 Douglas - Ballasalla  A5 Ballasalla - Castletown  A5 Castletown - Port St Mary - Port Erin  A18 Douglas - Ramsey 11.1.10 The original JMP Report (2007) identified that the following junctions experienc ed regular traffic congestion:  Quarterbridge  Mountain Road/Governors Road  Glencrutchery Road/Victoria Road 11.1.11 Taking into account the proposed level of new development identified in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, the JMP Report concluded that the following junctions would suffer more congestion:  Quarterbridge  Mountain Road/Governors Road  Glencrutchery Road/Victoria Road  A5/A7 junction Ballasalla  Parliament Square Ramsey 11.1.12 The 2014 transport assessment took into account the proposed level and location of new housing development up to 2026 and concluded that:  the Strategic Links are, and should, continue to operate within their 3,060 vehicles per hour capacity for the duration of the revised Isle of Man Strategic Plan ( up to 2026);  following sensitivity tests on the Ballacraine to Ramsey Strategic Link, there is no requirement to undertake further traffic congestion investigation work in rural village locations such as Kirk Michael;  following sensitivity tests, the Castletown to Ballasalla and Ballasalla to Douglas links highlight the requirement for traffic congestion investigation work in Ballasalla in 2026;  the Quarterbridge and Governors Hill junctions continue to operate at greater than 85% capacity and the increased traffic flows predicted in all the assessments will increase congestion at these locations; and  traffic flows at the Parliament Square junction in Ramsey, Ball acraine junction, and Main Road junction at Onchan are all set to increase by 2026 which will increase congestion at these locations. 11.1.13 An evaluation of this data indicates the increase in traffic flow at Parliament Street in Ramsey can be accommodated by the minor improvement works to increase capacity at this location in 2009. However, the Ballacraine and Onchan Main Road traffic signals will require further assessment during the development of the Area Plans for the West and East of the Island respectively to ensure these junctions do not become subject to a high level of congestion. 11.1.14 As the Isle of Man Strategic Plan is a document for the whole Island and does not include site specific proposals it is not considered either appropriate or necessary to include policies or proposals in respect of the specific traffic schemes. However, the Area Plans will need to consider both the implications of these schemes and the need for any localised improvements arising from any site specific proposals for new development. 11.1.15 Considering the outcome of the 2007 JMP Report, as well as the latest transport assessment 2014 which examined both the whole strategic route network as well as the local strategic route network, it is judged that the Policies in this Chapter remain appropriate. 11.2 Public Transport 11.2.1 It is considered that in order to support the environmental objectives of this plan the use of public transport as an alternative to the private car should be encouraged. Whilst many of the measures designed to improve public transport systems are not lik ely to involve the planning process, the enhancement of public transport infrastructure - for example