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The application site is a two storey dwellinghouse which is situated on the northern side of Albert Street. The property is located within an area zoned as mixed use (residential/offices) within the Douglas Local Plan and it is also located within the Windsor Road Conservation Area. To the east of the application site is the property of No.10 Albert Street and to the west, is the property of No.14 Albert Street.
This application is seeking permission to replace the existing timber door with an uPVC front door with a surrounding frame.
Within the adopted Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007, the following policies are considered to be relevant in the determination of this application: General Policy 2 and Environment Policy 35.
Environment Policy 35 states that "Within Conservation Areas, the Department will permit only development which 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".
Section 18 (4) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999 states that "Where any area is for the time being a conservation area, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or
enhancing it character or appearance in the exercise, with respect to any buildings or other land in the area, of any powers under this Act."
Within Planning Policy Statement 1/01, the following policies are considered to be relevant in the determination of this application: CA/2
The following previous applications are considered relevant in the consideration of this application:
05/92253/B – Re-roofing of dwelling including installation of roof lights to replace existing dormers, removal of chimney stack and installation of uPVC sliding sash windows to front elevation and casement to rear – granted 03.02.2006
Highways Division of the Department of Transport have not commented on the application.
Douglas Corporation has not objected to the application.
The key issue here is whether the installation of an uPVC front door with its surrounding frame would preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.
Whilst the terrace does have a variety of door styles, they are in the main, painted timber with deep moulded panelling and acts as a unifying feature to all the properties within the Conservation Area.
The current door is timber with solid timber panels to the sides of the door and a top fanlight. The fanlight will be retained. The upper half of the door has glazed panels whilst the lower half of the door has deep moulded panelling. It is considered that the installation of an uPVC door with its surrounding frame would be out of keeping with the general character of the street scene and would not preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, however, given that there are a variety of door styles within the immediate locality, it is not considered so objectionable as to warrant refusal of the application, particularly given that the windows to the property are upvc sliding sash, and these are the predominate feature in the front elevation.
The Assistant Conservation Officer has contacted the applicant to negotiate on retaining the timber door or to replace it with a new timber door; however, the applicant has indicated that No.18 Albert Street has made a similar application and therefore does not want a timber door.
It is recommended that the application be approved.
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.
In summary, it is considered that the following parties, who submitted comments, accord with the requirements of Planning Circular 1/06 and are therefore, afforded interested party status:
Douglas Corporation
Highways Division of the Department of Transport
Recommended Decision: Permitted
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal
C 1. The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
C 2. This approval relates to the plans and information submitted as part of this application and date stamped 20th November 2007.
I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 44/05 (Delegation of Functions to Director of Planning and Building Control)
Decision Made : Permitted Date : 30/4/08
Signed : M. I. McCauley Director of Planning and Building Control
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