12 February 2009 · Delegated
Field 614729, Baldrine Road, Baldrine, Isle Of Man, IM4 6ed
This application sought approval in principle to erect a dwelling with ancillary living accommodation and a garage on a parcel of land in the north east corner of field 614729, located opposite the junction of Highfield Drive with Baldrine Road in Baldrine, Lonan. The application was assessed by the case officer, Mr A Holmes, with the officer recommending approval. The main planning issues considered were sewage disposal, surface water disposal, vehicular access, and both public and private amenity. The Acting Senior Planning Officer approved the application under delegated authority on 12 February 2009, subject to six conditions.
The application was approved in principle by the Acting Senior Planning Officer under delegated authority. The key planning issues considered included sewage disposal, surface water drainage, and vehicular access. Six conditions were attached to the approval.
Policy L/RES/PR/1
Residential development will generally only be approved within the study area in those areas designated as proposed and existing residential.
Policy L/S/PR/1
No development will be permitted where the sewage produces as a result of the development cannot be dealt with in a manner to the satisfaction of the Department of Transport and Department of Local Government and the Environment.
Policy L/S/PR/2
Where development is proposed and it may be connected into the existing foul sewage system, the Department will require that all foul sewage is directed to the public foul sewer with no discharge to any surface water systems and that no surface water is discharged into the public foul sewers.
General Policy 2
General Policy 2: Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development: (a) is in accordance with the design brief in the Area Plan where there is such a brief; (b) respects the site and surroundings in terms of the siting, layout, scale, form, design and landscaping of buildings and the spaces around them; (c) does not affect adversely the character of the surrounding landscape or townscape; (d) does not adversely affect the protected wildlife or locally important habitats on the site or adjacent land, including water courses; (e) does not affect adversely public views of the sea; (f) incorporates where possible existing topography and landscape features, particularly trees and sod banks; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (h) provides satisfactory amenity standards in itself, including where appropriate safe and convenient access for all highway users, together with adequate parking, servicing and manoeuvring space; (i) does not have an unacceptable effect on road safety or traffic flows on the local highways; (j) can be provided with all necessary services; (k) does not prejudice the use or development of adjoining land in accordance with the appropriate Area Plan; (l) is not on contaminated land or subject to unreasonable risk of erosion or flooding; (m) takes account of community and personal safety and security in the design of buildings and the spaces around them; and (n) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption. 6.3 Development outside of areas zoned for development
Housing Policy 4
mplications of the Landscape Character Assessment Landscape Types - Coastal Cliffs, Incised Slopes, Uplands, Undulating Lowland Plain, Islands Landscape Area - H2 (Fleshwick) , H3 (Bradda Head) , H4 (Cregneash Head and Meayll Peninsula), A2 (Southern Uplands) , F8 (Poyll Vaaish and Scarlett Peninsula), J1 (Calf of Man). i. A number of Landscape Character Types/Areas are identified in Rushen stretching from the Southern Uplands to the Meayll Peninsula. Care is needed in order to protect this array of d ifferent landscapes which include open and windswept coastal stretches and inland moorland, high and dramatic sea cliffs and pastoral and arable fields. ii. The Parish of Rushen is split into 3 distinct physical areas by the local authority areas of Port St Mary and Port Erin. The largest area stretching from its boundary with Patrick in the north to the boundaries of Port Erin and Port St Mary. The other 2 areas are the Meayll Peninsula and the Calf of Man. The Landscape Character Assessment stresses the importance of avoiding the coalescence of Ballafesson and Port Erin and also Port Erin and Port St Mary. Sufficient green space should be retained between the settlements of Ballafesson, Port Erin, Ballagawne /Ballakillowey, and Port St Mary to ensure preservation of their separate identities. iii. Avoid any new areas of ribbon development along the southern coastline at Bay ny Carrickey. Landscape Proposal 9: Additional new built development (other than development ancillary to existing properties) should not be permitted alongside the coastal road between the Shore Hotel and Pooil Vaaish Farm. Landscape Proposal 10: Any additional new built development on the Meayll Peninsula, other than very limited development near its northern edge at the former Marine Biological Station, should be avoided as such development would adversely affect the largely unspoilt character and appearance of the Peninsula and/or would diminish its role in providing a vegetated, undeveloped backdrop to Port Erin, Port St Mary and Cregneash. Landscape Proposal 11: Should the opportunity arise, the radio beacon on Cronk ny Arrey and other communications apparatus on the Meayll Peninsula should be removed or, if necessary, replaced by more modest and less intrusive structures. Landscape Proposal 12: The cluster of buildings at The Howe around the Methodist Chapel is quite exposed and appears on some local skylines. Care should be taken when considering proposals to change the roofscape or silhouettes of the buildings. Landscape Proposal 13: The buildings at Glen Chass are pleasantly and haphazardly scattered around the winding road down to Fistard. The spaces between the buildings make a significant contribution to the character of the group; any proposals to extend properties should be of subordinate scale to the parent building so as to protect these spaces. Landscape Proposal 14: The character of the group at Ballakilpheric/Cronk e Dhooney arises principally from the largely informal setting around the lanes which serve the dwellings, the farms and the Chapel. Changes to the spaces between the buildings should be of informal character, avoiding extensive paving, kerbing or inappropriate fencing.
Housing Policy 6
Housing Policy 6: Development of land which is zoned for residential development must be undertaken in accordance with the brief in the relevant area plan, or, in the absence of a brief, in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 6.2 of this Plan. Briefs will encourage good and innovative design, and will not be needlessly prescriptive. 8.8 Groups of Houses in the Countryside 8.8.1 There are in the countryside man y small groups of dwellings which, whilst not having the character of, or the full range of services usually provided in a village, nevertheless have a sense of place and community. These groups are found variously at crossroads, in places sheltered by trees or topography or around chapels, abandoned mills or smithys. 8.8.2 Adding further dwellings to these groups may not accord with our strategic objectives relating to settlements and sustainability but may assist in meeting the need of rural areas; may maintain social and family associations and assist in sustaining the rural economy; and may reduce the pressure for purely sporadic and isolated development which the Department would not support. Such additions would also need to be sensitively related to the existing settlement pattern and the landscape. 8.8.3 In the most recent local and Area Plans, the Department has in fact identified a number of these opportunities and in future Area Plans all groups of houses in the countryside will be assessed for d evelopment potential by identifying the village envelope or curtilage and providing the opportunity for appropriate development within this area. There may be some settlements where no additional dwellings will be permitted. In considering the definition o f this curtilage or envelope, particular regard will be had to the value of existing spaces in terms of their contribution to the general character of the settlement or to public amenity more generally. It is important, however that such development is controlled by the development plan process rather than as ad hoc decisions taken in isolation. 8.9 New Agricultural Dwellings 8.9.1 As is indicated in Chapter 7 (at Section 7.14), permission will not be granted for new agricultural dwellings in the countryside unless there is real agricultural need demonstrated sufficient to off-set the general planning objections to new dwellings in the countryside. 8.9.2 Agricultural need should be established having regard to: (a) what living accommodation has been built on, or in association with the farm holding in the past, and how it is now occupied; and (b) who will occupy the proposed dwelling, and what role they will play in the operation of the farm; in some circumstances, there will be a legitimate need for a dwelling for a retiring farmer who proposes to vacate the farmhouse but to continue to assist on the farm.
Condition 1
This approval is in principle only and will remain valid for a period of two years within which time no development may take place until such time as details of the reserved matters (siting, design, external appearance, internal layout, means of access, landscaping) have been approved by the Planning Authority. Such reserved matters should form the subject of a single application.
Condition 2
This approval relates to the land defined by the red line of location plan and site plan date stamped the 21st July 2008.
Condition 3
The proposed development must be connected to the main foul sewer.
Condition 4
There must be no discharge of surface water from the proposed development to the main foul sewer.
Condition 5
The dwelling shall be sited and designed to take account of its rural location and the residential amenity of the existing surrounding properties.
Condition 6
Vehicular access, parking and visibility standards shall be provided in accordance with Manx Roads 1.