11 August 2008 · Delegated
Westham Lodge, Arbory Road, Castletown, Isle Of Man, IM9 1nd
The application sought permission to erect a detached dwelling and garage on an undeveloped plot to the rear of Westham and Westham Cottage, which front onto Arbory Road. The site, previously designated as Woodland in the 1991 Castletown Local Plan, had been reconsidered in the 2001 draft Castletown Area Plan, which identified it as suitable for a single dwelling provided access was taken from Arbory Road via the existing shared access. The site sits near a group of relatively new detached dwellings at Westham Lea to the south east. The officer's assessment drew on the planning history of comparable nearby sites, noting that previous refusals in the area had turned on access problems rather than the principle of residential development. In this case, access from Arbory Road was considered acceptable. The proposal was judged to comply with Strategic Plan policies on making better use of unused land, efficient use of sites, and utilising existing infrastructure, with design to be guided by the character of Westham.
The principle of a single dwelling on this site was supported by the emerging draft Area Plan, and unlike comparable cases in the area, the access arrangement from Arbory Road was considered acceptable. The proposal made efficient use of an unused parcel of land and could utilise existing infrastructure, satisfying relevant Strategic Plan policies. Design was to follow the character of the adjacent Westham property.
provide better use of unused land
The proposed site in this case would also comply with the requirements of the Strategic Plan to provide better use of unused land
efficient use of sites
the requirements of the Strategic Plan to provide better use of unused land (Strategic Policy 1a) and the efficient use of sites (Strategic Policy 1b)
utilise existing infrastructure, facilities and services
and would be sited so as to be able to utilise existing infrastructure, facilities and services (Strategic Policy 1c)
local character and design
and the proposal would have regard to local character and design through looking to Westham for design guidance, thus complying with Strategic Policy 3b
Condition 1
The development hereby permitted shall commence before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Condition 2
This permission relates to the erection of a dwelling as shown in drawings SC1065/P/00-01, $-10-01,-10-02,-10-03$ and $-10-04$ all received on 28th May, 2008.
Condition 3
Prior to the commencement of any works on site, the applicant must protect all existing trees on site which are marked on plans SC1065/P/00-01 and SC1065/P/10-01 to be retained, for the duration of the development, by means of a stout fence erected beneath the drip line of the trees closest to the proposed dwelling and works associated therewith and thereafter the protected area must remain free from stored material and parked vehicles and no building or excavation works may be carried out within such area.
