Erection of a two storey extension to form additional office accommodation, associated car parking and facilities

Why Was This Refused?

• ✓Site is zoned for industrial use, making a large increase in office floorspace unacceptable
• ✓Proposed extension's height and massing considered out of keeping with the existing building
• ✓Parking provision fell 20 spaces short of the required standard for out-of-town offices
• ✓Site noted as retaining a largely residential appearance
• ✓character
• ✓scale
• ✓parking

Permission was sought to erect a two-storey extension to the Isle of Man Development Co Ltd head office on Cooil Road, Douglas, to provide additional office accommodation along with associated car parking and facilities. The Planning Committee refused the application in November 2007. Three distinct planning concerns were identified: the proposal would considerably increase office floorspace on a site that is zoned for industrial use under the Braddan District Plan 1991; the height and massing of the extension would fail to respect the scale and character of the existing building; and the submitted drawings showed a parking shortfall of 20 spaces against the applicable standards for out-of-town office development. The officer report also noted that the site retains a largely residential appearance, adding further context to concerns about the proposal's compatibility with its surroundings.

The Planning Committee refused the application for three reasons: the extension would significantly increase office floorspace on a site zoned for industrial use; its height and massing would not respect the scale and character of the existing building; and the proposed parking fell 20 spaces short of the required standard for out-of-town office use. The official portal decision is recorded as Refused on 2007-11-21.

Planning History (3)

Documents (15)