Erection of an agricultural building

Why Was This Refused?

• ✓Site is unzoned 'white land' in the countryside with a general presumption against development
• ✓Environmental Policy 15 requires agricultural buildings to be sited close to existing building groups and be sympathetic in scale and materials
• ✓Officer recommended approval, finding visual impact acceptable due to existing and new boundary screening
• ✓Planning Committee refused the application, overturning the officer's recommendation
• ✓Lezayre Parish Commissioners raised traffic concerns, which the officer considered limited for an agricultural-only use

The proposal was to erect a new agricultural building north of two existing single-storey storage and stable buildings at The Stables, Jurby Road, Lezayre. The site sits on unzoned 'white land' in the countryside, where development is subject to a general policy presumption against it under the Isle of Man Strategic Plan. Environmental Policy 15 requires that any agricultural building in the countryside must be sited as close as practicable to existing building groups and be appropriate in scale, materials, colour, and siting so as to be sympathetic to the landscape. The officer considered the site well screened by existing hedges, a 1.8-metre grass banking, and a recently planted Fir Tree plantation, and recommended approval on the basis that visual impact would not be significant and agricultural traffic would be limited. The Planning Committee disagreed and refused the application, though the specific reasons for refusal are not fully detailed in the available documents.

The Planning Committee refused the application, overriding the officer's recommendation to approve. The committee's precise reasons for refusal are not fully set out in the available information, but the decision reflects a stricter application of countryside development policy than the officer's assessment.

Policies Assessed (2)

Conditions (4)

1. 1

   Condition 1

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

2. 2

   Condition 2

   This approval relates to the submitted documents and drawings 00751/1 and 3606-01 all received on 17th April 2007.

3. 3

   Condition 3

   The building must only be used for agricultural purposes.

4. 4

   Condition 4

   Prior to the commencement of building works, samples of the roof cladding and vertical barge boards must be approved by the Planning Authority.

Planning History (3)

Documents (48)