DEC Officer Report

Application No.: 22/01169/B Applicant: Isle Of Man Government Department Of Infrastructure Proposal: Form a Concrete base and footpath to facilitate the erection of a cycle shelter for the School staff Site Address: Willaston School School Road Douglas Isle Of Man IM2 6RD Principal Planner: Mr Chris Balmer Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 03.11.2022

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. It is concluded that the planning application does not conflict with General Policy 2 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016; having no adverse impacts upon public or private amenities.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This approval relates to the submitted documents and drawing all received on 29.09.2022. _______________________________________________________________

Interested Person Status

Additional Persons None _____________________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report SITE

1.1 The site represents the curtilage of Willaston Primary School, School Road, Douglas. The school is made up of a large building which is designed in an L-shaped form. It also has mobile classrooms located on the south-east and south west sections of the site respectively. - 1.2 The curtilage of the Willaston Primary School is a sizeable area which fronts onto School Road and backs onto University College Isle of Man. The site has a large area of playing fields to the north-east and south east sections of the site. The school building is fairly large; it has been extended quite substantially over the years. THE PROPOSAL

2.1 The application seeks approval to form a concrete base and footpath to facilitate the erection of a cycle shelter for the school staff. PLANNING POLICIES - 3.1 The site has been designated under the Area Plan for the East 2020 as an 'Area of Buildings for Civic, Cultural and Other Special Use' (Primary school); the site is not within a Conservation Area.

3.2 The following policies are therefore considered relevant in the consideration of this application:

• 3.2.1 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:

• (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; (g) does not affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality;

• 3.2.2 Community Policy 5: Permission will generally be given for proposals to improve or extend existing schools and institutions of higher education and to build new schools, subject to their being sited and designed in accordance with the other policies of this plan, having particular regard to the potential for community use of the buildings and the associated Open Space.

PLANNING HISTORY 3.1 There are a number of previous planning applications for extensions and alterations to the school all of which have been approved; however, none are considered relevant in the determination of this applications.

REPRESENTATIONS Copies of representations received can be viewed on the government's website. This report contains summaries only.

5.1 Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Services comment (13.10.2022); "After reviewing this Application, Highway Services HDC finds it to have no significant negative impact upon highway safety, network functionality and /or parking. The proposal is welcomed to promote Active Travel and net zero objectives." - 5.2 Douglas Borough Council indicates that they have no objection (14.10.2022). ASSESSMENT

6.1 The main considerations is the visual impact of the development upon the area. - 6.2 The proposal is modest in size in relation to existing development on site and is a feature which is not uncommon within school grounds. The proposal would also encourage more sustain able means of travel.

CONCLUSION

7.1 As a result, it is concluded that the planning application does not conflict with General Policy 2 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016; having no adverse impacts upon public or private amenities. On the basis of the above it is recommended that the planning application be approved. INTERESTED PERSON STATUS - 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons:

• (a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf);
• (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure;
• (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material;
• (f) the local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated; and
• (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material. 8.2 The decision maker must determine:

• o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and
• o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status.

I can confirm that this decision has been made by a Principal Planner in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation and that in making this decision the Officer has agreed the recommendation in relation to who should be afforded Interested Person Status.

Decision Made : Permitted Date: 07.11.2022 Determining officer Signed : J SINGLETON Jason Singleton Principal Planner

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