Change of use from store to home office (Class 2.1)

general 'Development Control' considerations

the proposal is considered to comply with

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

growth of employment opportunities throughout the Island will be encouraged

the proposal is considered to comply with

Business Policy 1: The growth of employment opportunities throughout the Island will be encouraged provided that development proposals accord with the policies of this Plan. 9.1.3 This chapter concent rates on the land use implications of business activity, including industry, storage and distribution, office and commercial development, retailing and tourism. 9.1.4 In respect of employment land availability, the Department has undertaken and published an Employment Land Availability Study (1). A summary of this is included in Appendix 9. Across the Island there are some 118 hectares of land allocated for industrial development. Much of this is concentrated around Ballasalla and the Airport. There is, however, a spread of land available across the Island to support employment and regeneration opportunities in each area. Such land will be important to support the regeneration of the Service Centres and the Gateway and Employment role of the Airport area. 9.1.5 The Douglas area has seen by far the bulk of the industrial land take up in recent decades and much of the land allocated for such purposes has been taken up. This is why the Department has resolved to proceed with a Development Order for the development of some 20 hectares of employment land to the south of Cooil Road. A recent report on the take up of industrial land in the Douglas area indicates that it has been faster than anticipated and at current rates that all the land will be required by 2015. While the situation will be subject to detailed assessment in the preparation of the Plan for the East, the Department is satisfied that the release of additional land is both necessary and appropriate at this stage. 9.1.6 The Department has also reviewed planning permissions for office development. The majority of these are focused in the Douglas area. Take up has been low in recent years with the exception of certain relocations to corporate headquarters, such as Skandia. There are a number o f sites still available for new office development, in addition to the existing stock. Of note is the recent trend for sites with office consents to subsequently secure planning permission for residential use. The most notable example being the final pha se of the Villiers development, which now has a residential permission in addition to its partly - implemented office consent. 9.1.7 The following information has been extracted from the Review of Economic Strategy (Treasury 2003) which formed part of the background to the Economic Strategy 2004 approved by Tynwald in October that year. (1) Employment Land Availability Study DLGE 2007 9.1.8 The Isle of Man has enjoyed unprecedented economic success in the last ten years. Over this period annual gross domestic product, or GDP (the value of the economy' s output of all goods and services), has more than doubled in real terms (both absolute and per capita) such that from a deficit of around one quarter, per capita GDP in the Isle of Man now exceeds that of the UK by 7% and the average for the European Union (EU 15) by 10%. 9.1.9 The period 1993 - 2000 saw the economy not only expanding but doing so at an accelerating rate, before slowing in 2000/01. Since 2001 the economy has continued to grow at around 5% per annum (the latest national income accounts revealed growth of 5.9% in 2002/03), meaning that, after the recession in the early 1980's the Isle of Man economy has recorded economic growth in each of the last twenty years. 9.1.10 This economic performance has been led by the financial and related se rvices sectors. The finance industry grew by over 80% between 1996 and 2001 alone. But the table below illustrates that probably all areas of Manx economy are today generating more income in real terms than a decade ago, even it the relative importance o f some, most noticeably manufacturing, has declined. Table One - Sectoral Contributions to National Income 1992/93 v 2000/01 (at 2000/01 prices) Contributions to National Income (£) Real Increase in income generated (%) 1992/93 % 2000/01 % Manufacturing 72.0 11 76.7 6 6.5 Finance 229.7 35 505.4 41 120.0 Tourism 41.0 6 67.7 6 65.1 Agriculture/Fishing 11.7 2 15.8 1 35.0 Construction 46.7 7 89.6 7 91.9 Professional Services 96.7 15 186.1 15 92.4 Utilities, Distribution and Miscellaneous Services 133.1 20 223.8 18 68.1 Pubic Administration 34.6 5 53.6 4 54.9 Total 665.5 100 1,218.7 100 83.1 9.1.11 National income data aside, the clearest indication of the economic success enjoyed by the Island in recent times comes from the labour market. Census results show that the workforce increased from 33,189 in 1991 to 39,685 by 2001, an increase almost identical to that in the total resident population over the period. But the number seeking emp loyment but who were unemployed at the time halved from 1,360 to 635. 9.1.12 Changes in the underlying structure of the economy reflected in the national income accounts are further depicted in the Census statistics below showing the distribution of labour between the different sectors of the economy. Table Two - Employment by Sector 1991 v 1996 1991 1996 2001 No. % No. % No. % Agriculture and Fishing 1,240 3.9 938 2.8 543 1.4 Manufacturing 3,348 10.5 3,562 10.6 3,185 8.2 Construction 3,404 10.7 3,372 10.0 2,512 6.4 Utilities1 513 1.6 462 1.4 515 1.3 Transport and Communications 2,437 7.7 2,688 8.0 2,970 7.6 Wholesaling and Retailing 3,844 12.1 3,692 11.0 4,372 11.2 Finance 4,353 13.7 5,942 17.7 8,959 22.9 ICT2 n.a n.a n.a n.a 361 0.9 Professional Services 5,438 17.1 6,081 18.1 7,296 18.7 Tourist Accommodation 856 2.7 765 2.3 743 1.9 Entertainment and Catering 1,403 4.4 1,156 3.4 2,116 5.4 Miscellaneous Services 2,849 9.0 2,768 8.2 2,373 6.1 Public Administration 2,144 6.7 2,146 6.4 3,105 8.0 Total 31,829 100.0 33,5773 100.0 39,050 100.0 Notes: 1 Electricity, gas and water 2 Not separated out from other sectors until 2001 3 Includes 5 where occupation not recorded 9.2 Industry and Storage and Distribution 9.2.1 The nature of industrial activity on the Island changed very considerably during the last century. The previously dominant primary industries of fishing and agriculture now contribute only 1% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide only 1.4% of our total employment, whereas manufacturing contributes 6% to the GDP and provides 8.2% of our employment, and the construction industry contributes 6% to the GDP and provides 6.4% of our employment. Storage and distribution has also become a more important activity, particularly in terms of the demands it makes on land, buildings, and access requirements. 9.2.2 Most of the Island's industry is located close to major transportation links, particularly in the case of Douglas, Braddan and Ballasalla, which all have convenient access to Ronaldsway airport and Douglas harbour. Ramsey and Peel harbours are used for the importation and exportation of large scale good s (fuel, building supplies etc). All of these are conveniently accessible to significant pools of labour. In order to minimise excessive transportation of goods and travel for employees, and to promote sustainable development, much of the Island's future industrial development should continue to be concentrated in these locations, and appropriate areas of land should be made available for such uses in the Area Plans for these parts of the Island. It will also be appropriate, when formulating Area Plans for our smaller settlements, to make provision for the continued operation of small -scale family businesses, particu

retail provisions are only to be permitted in established town and village centres

most relevant

Strategic Policy 9: All new retail development (excepting neighbourhood s hops and those instances identified in Business Policy 5) and all new office development (excepting corporate headquarters suitable for a business park (1) location) must be sited within the town and village centres on land zoned for these purposes in Area Plans, whilst taking into consideration Business Policies 7 and 8. 4.4.7 The definition of Corporate Headquarters includes offices for those companies using the new information technologies and/or who service other business park users (but specifical ly excludes financial and professional services to visiting members of the public including banks, building societies, estate agencies and betting offices). 4.5 Transport and Communications 4.5.1 There is a direct link between the location of new devel opment, its effect on the transport network and the provision of a more integrated transport network. Accordingly:

retail provisions are only to be permitted in established town and village centres

most relevant

Business Policy 10: Retail development will be permitted only in established town and village centres, with the exceptions of neighbourhood shops in large residential areas and those instances identified in Business Policy 5. 9.4.4 For the purposes of Business Policy 9 major retail development will be classed as any new or increase in existing retail development of more than 500 sq. metres of floor space measured externally. For the purposes of Business Policy 10 new nei ghbourhood shops within new residential developments will not normally comprise more than 100sq metres of floor space measured externally. 9.4.5 It is accepted that in some circumstances a mix of uses can be appropriate within town centre locations such as residential flats above retail units or office accommodation, particularly where this can help to ensure the use of the area at different times during the day, thus helping to ensure the security and vitality of these areas. 9.5 Tourism 9.5.1 "Tourism" has been defined by the Tourism Society as "the temporary short term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work and their activities during their stay at these destinations", and it covers a very wide range of activities and types of development. This may include travel and visits for business, professional, and domestic purposes as well as for holidays and recreation. 9.5.2 Tourism has historically been an important element in the Island's economy, and after a period of steady decline visitor numbers to the Island are once again starting to increase. A reliance on the traditional high volume, low yield holidays of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is long gone, with a swing towards high yield, lower volume tourism such as business trips, short breaks and special interest attractions. 9.5.3 It is considered that the Island's primary assets to tourists and visitors alike are its unique historical landscape, culture and heritage, as well as a wide rang e of specialist events and attractions. Many activities and facilities providing for the Island's tourists require no permanent development: the TT Races, for example which attract by far the most significant number of tourists to the Island of any event h eld here, require little but the Grandstand on Glencrutchery Road and a small number of modest marshals' shelters around the Course. Tourism can, however require the erection of built structures - holiday accommodation being the most frequently requested f orm of new development required in association with the tourism industry. It is important that a balance be struck between the needs of tourism and the protection of these assets, and that tourism development should be sustainable in accordance with the ob jectives of this plan. There is no special reason why less demanding policies should be applied to tourism development than for other types of development in the countryside, and larger scale schemes may have to be the subject of an environmental impact assessment before planning permission is granted, as with any other form of large scale development. 9.5.4 The Department of Tourism and Leisure is responsible for the development of the tourism strategy for the Island. The current version of the Tourism Strateg y - "Fit for the Future" was approved by Tynwald in April 2004. One of the key issues identified in that strategy is the need to broaden the range of tourist accommodation: "Long term development is also being hindered by the lack of bed spaces in genera l and of the quality now being required to service our customer's base in particular. It is a necessary requirement that existing bed stock continues to upgrade and the Department will ensure appropriate support is put in place to enable existing business to develop. In addition the Department also needs to provide support for the building of new bed stock on an Island wide basis. There also needs to be recognition that the local property market can have a major impact on future tourism development. If there is a continued loss of traditional resort accommodation taking advantage of the high cost of residential property then there will be a heavy reliance on new build hotels if serviced stock levels are to be retained or increased" (1) 9.5.5 In recognition of this the Department proposes that new forms of contemporary tourism development will be welcomed, particularly those that satisfy customer demand for high quality accommodation in rural areas provided that they comply with the policies in the plan. Farmhouse accommodation or quality self catering units in barn conversions and making use of rural activities will be encouraged but must comply with General Policy 3 and Business Policy 9. Other forms of quality accommodation in rural areas wi ll be considered, including the provision of hostels and similar accommodation suitable for walkers but must comply with General Policy 3 and Business Policy 11. 9.5.6 Area Plans may address a number of tourism issues, including current and future visitor trends and how they might impact upon the existing and future environment (for example through demand for certain types of accommodation, traffic generation, and parking requirements), an identification of areas where changing tourism trends are likely to result in demand to re -use or redevelop tourism buildings, and how key tourism assets such as natural landscapes cultural heritage and historic town centres can be protected. The role of an Area Plan should not be to provide a strategy for tourism but rat her to facilitate possible development by way of appropriate policies and guidance. 9.5.7 Although previous Local Plans have applied a "Tourism" designation to areas with a large number of hotels, such a designation is becoming less appropriate in many towns and villages as the reduced demand for larger Victorian hotels results in conversion to private residential use. It is now more likely that a Tourism designation be given to specific tourist attractions and existing large individual hotel sites, with new t ourist accommodation incorporated into areas of mixed or residential use. Wider areas which still include a large tourism element, such as Douglas Promenade, may be designated for "Residential/ Tourism" use (other potential uses may be identified and incl uded in a mixed designation if appropriate). 9.5.8 The use of existing private residential properties as tourist accommodation may be acceptable if it can be demonstrated that it will not compromise the amenities of any neighbouring residents. In Chapte r 7, there are described the circumstances in which redundant buildings in the countryside can be converted into dwellings. These policies apply equally to tourist use, except that it may very often be possible to convert to tourist use buildings which ar e too small to form a satisfactory permanent dwelling. The following policies and proposal are thus appropriate:

new community facilities should be located to serve the local population and be accessible to non-car users, and should where possible re-use existing vacant or underused buildings

also relevant

Community Policy 2: New community facilities should be located to serve the local population and be accessible to non -car users, and should where possible re-use existing vacant or underused buildings. 10.7.2 Local community facilities are important in providing for local communities without the need for travel and should be retained unless the site or premises are no longer suitable for the current or an alternative community use. Developers will be expected to demonstrate that the potential to use the site or building for other community uses has been investigated.

requirement for parking standards

also relevant

Transport Policy 7: The Department will require that in all new development, parking provision must be in accordance with the Department's current standards. The current standards are set out in Appendix 7. 11.5.4 New development can have a significant impact in terms of the traffic generated by it and the impact on the various modes of travel. The Department considers that proposals which are likely to be significant traffic generators should be accompanied by a Transport Assessment(1) which should look at all modes of transport including access by public transport, cycling and on foot.