08/00005/CON2008
17 March 2008 · Delegated
6, Auckland Terrace, Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle Of Man, IM8 1af
The proposal involved converting the ground floor office at 6 Auckland Terrace, Parliament Street, Ramsey into an opticians. The building is a two-storey terraced property on the northern side of Parliament Street and is listed on the Isle of Man's Protected Buildings Register as RB 152. The works were confined to the interior: ground floor partitioning to divide space, a wheelchair access ramp formed over the existing stairs, enlargement of a doorway to create a WC, and installation of wall-mounted units in the basement to create a workshop. The officer assessed the proposal against Policy RB/5 on alterations to registered buildings. Although the submitted drawings lacked some detail, the officer was satisfied that the intended works were sufficiently clear. The overall impact on the building's structure was judged to be fairly minimal, with finer details — including the treatment of any historic covings affected by partitions and the ramp construction — to be resolved by condition.
The application was approved because the proposed alterations were confined to the interior and had a minimal structural impact on the registered building. The officer was satisfied the use as an opticians was acceptable in principle, and that outstanding detail on sensitive junctions and the access ramp could be secured through conditions rather than warranting refusal.
Alterations and Extensions to a Registered Building
Planning Policy Statement 1/01, Policy and Guidance Notes for the Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man
POLICY RB/5 ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS In considering whether to grant planning approval for development which affects a registered building or its setting and in considering whether to grant registered building consent for any works, the Department shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. Registered building consent is required for the building's alteration in any way which would affect its special architectural or historic character. There will be a general presumption against alteration or extension of registered buildings, except where a convincing case can be made, against the criteria set out in this section, for such proposals. Applicants for registered building consent for alteration or extension to a registered building must be able to justify their proposals. They will be required to show why the works which would affect the character of the registered building are desirable or necessary and they should provide full information to enable the Department to assess the likely impact of their proposals on the special architectural or historic interest of the building and on its setting. Where registered buildings are the subject of successive applications for alteration or extension, consideration will also be given to the cumulative affect upon the building's special interest as a result of several minor works which may individually seem of little consequence.