20 February 2008 · Delegated
5, Arbory Road, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1na
The proposal was to install a replacement PVC casement window with Georgian glazing bars at first-floor level on the front elevation of 5 Arbory Road, a terraced dwelling in the Castletown Conservation Area. The existing window in that aperture was a timber casement type with Georgian glazing bars, while all other windows on the front façade had already been replaced with PVC casement windows of matching style. The key planning issue was whether the replacement would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, as required by Environment Policy 35 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan. Officers acknowledged that sliding sash windows would historically have been more appropriate for this type of dwelling, but concluded that matching the replacement to the other existing PVC windows was acceptable because it would produce a coherent, unified principal façade rather than leaving a single mismatched window in place.
The application was approved because the proposed window matched the PVC casement windows already fitted to the rest of the front façade, achieving a unified appearance. Although original sliding sash windows would have been the ideal, replacing one remaining timber casement window to match the others was judged to preserve the coherence of the principal façade within the Conservation Area.
Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development.
the following policy is considered relevant
Environment Policy 35: Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development. 7.30 Development adjacent to Conservation Areas 7.30.1 It is often the case that important views into and out of a Conservation Area can contribute significantly to its character. It is necessary to assess the impact any development adjacent to conservation areas may have on such views.
