Officer Planning Report Recommendations

Considerations {{table:203030}} {{table:203028}} ### Written Representations ### Consultations {{table:203029}}

Officer's Report

THE APPLICATION SITE AND PLANNING APPLICATION The application site comprises apartments 243 – 253 (inclusive) within St Pauls Apartments in Ramsey. The planning application seeks approval to change the use of the apartments from tourist to residential use. PLANNING HISTORY

Whilst the building has been the subject of a number of previous planning applications it is considered that none of these are specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application.

REPRESENTATIONS

Ramsey Town Commissioners have no objection to the planning application.

The Department of Transport Highways Division requested additional information. No additional response following the receipt of this information has been received.

The Chief Environmental Health Officer has expressed an interest in the planning application. The Department of Tourism and Leisure has expressed an interest in the planning application. PLANNING POLICY

In terms of local plan policy, the application site is located within a wider area of land that is designated as mixed use (town centre) under the Ramsey Local Plan Order 1998. There are no policies with Planning Circular 2/99, the written statement that accompanies the local plan, considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application.

In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2007 contains one policy that is considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application. General Policy 2 states:

"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."

Assessment

The planning application seeks approval to change the use of the apartments from tourist use to permanent residential use. The proposal does not involve any external alterations and the size of each apartment does not increase as a result of the proposed change of use.

As part of the assessment of the planning application clarification of a number of issues has been sought from the applicant. To the best of their knowledge the current use of the apartments is as tourist accommodation, which presumably reflects the original apartheid nature of the building. They have advised that the apartments do not currently have any dedicated car parking spaces and that they have negotiated for the use of 22 nearby spaces outside of office hours.

Given the size of the apartments the change from tourist use to permanent residential use is modest and it is considered that such change is unlikely to cause any significant harmful impact. It is recommended that the planning application be approved.

Party Status

It is considered that the following parties that made representations to the planning application meet the criteria of Government Circular 1/06 and should be afforded interested party status:

Ramsey Town Commissioners; The Department of Transport Highways Division; The Chief Environmental Health Officer; and The Department of Tourism and Leisure.

Recommendation

Recommended Decision: Permitted

Date of Recommendation: 08.01.2009

Conditions and Notes for Approval / Reasons and Notes for Refusal

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions R : Reasons for refusal

• : Notes attached to refusals

C 1. The use must be taken up within four years of the date of this notice in order for this approval to remain valid after that time.

C 2. This approval relates to apartments 243 - 253 (inclusive) defined within the red line on drawing no. 08/0446/1 date stamped the 7th October 2008.

I confirm that this decision accords with Government Circular No 31/07 (Delegation of Functions to Senior Planning Officer)

Decision Made : Permitted Date : 15/1/09

Signed : DB Senior Planning Officer