Supporting Information Statement Wheelchair Access

CJ Design Limited

10 Ballaterson Road, Peel, Isle of Man IM5 1BJ Tel: 426277 email: [email protected]

SUPPORTING INFORMATION STATEMENT FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS RAMP & NEW HANDRAIL TO THE ROYAL CHAPEL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, ST JOHNS. 2022/47/04 Rev A

Existing Site The application site is the Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist located in the centre of St John’s village. Whilst the building is not Registered, we understand it has significant historical interest and is a very prominent building given its proximity to Tynwald Hill. The Chapel building is utilised for important Island ceremonies, such as Tynwald Day, in addition to weekly prayer, weddings, funerals and chapel services.

The existing building has three access doors, two which are used by members of the public, located on the West and South sides of the building and one which provides access for maintenance to the heating system located on the North side of the building. A metal, movable access ramp provides current wheelchair access to the building via the West entrance and is stored to the rear or inside the Chapel building. This ramp is lifted into place by chapel members when required however it is not fixed at the top or bottom, has a very steep incline and has been reported as feeling unsafe by wheelchair users.

Photographs of the existing entrances to the West and South of the Chapel are included on CJ Design drawing numbered 2022/47/01, submitted as part of this planning application.

Planning History Following a search carried out on the Planning Department website it would appear the application site has been subject to one previous planning application submitted in 1990 and is not thought to be relevant to this planning application.

Pre-Application Advice During the design process pre-application consultation have taken place with the Conservation Officer, Mr T. Sinden at the Planning Department. These consultations have been in the form of email correspondence and site meetings. The advice given in the pre-application consultations have been taken on board by the applicant and the rationale for the submitted proposals are outlined in this Supporting Information Statement.

The applicant has discussed the proposals with the building users and committee, who have not raised any objections or any adverse comments to the proposals. They are in full support of providing a more permanent, wheelchair friendly access to the building.

Reference has also been made to the guidance given in a document published by Historic England, titled “Easy Access to Historic Buildings.” The guidance given in this document has been incorporated into the scheme design on the basis of best practice design.

Proposals This application seeks full planning approval for the external works to introduce a permanent ramped access with associated stepped access to the South Entrance of The Royal Chapel of St John the Baptist, St Johns. Also, full planning approval for the introduction of two new external handrails to the West Entrance doors.

As the works are to a historically important and prominent building, we believe any proposals need to be sympathetic to the original building whilst maintaining the imposing visual impact of the Chapel when viewed from the public highway and in conjunction with Tynwald Hill. The Department of Infrastructure and Isle of Man Government would like to construct a permanent ramp solution that complies with current DDA requirements but is also sympathetic to the existing building and surroundings.

During the initial feasibility stage, several design options have been explored including various ramp options from the West entrance and various ramp options to the South entrance before the attached scheme was chosen. Copies of the initial feasibility options explored as part of the scheme development have been included in Appendix A and B for reference. Both the South and West entrance doors were explored however most of these options were ruled out either on visual impact grounds, non-compliance with current regulations or impact on existing ground works / features surrounding the Chapel.

A preferred solution was agreed upon and developed into a fully designed scheme that involves a series of ramps with level platforms utilising a grassed area to the East of the existing South entrance lobby. A central planter feature will be incorporated in this option along with entrance steps from the existing paved approach.

Whilst the South elevation of the Chapel building is easily visible to members of the public from the main road, the use of a stainless steel handrail and upright system will minimise the visual impact of the new ramp whilst allowing views through to the original Chapel building. Anodised aluminium was considered for the handrail and uprights however following discussions with suppliers, it became apparent there may be a slight colour variation between the extruded aluminium used for the straight lengths of handrail and the cast aluminium sections used for the bends and connection plates. The stainless steel handrail and upright system (grade 316) proposed has been installed at Port Erin Station for a number of years and is showing very little sign of weathering in our coastal environment.

The ramp surface will be a textured concrete to provide a non-slip surface suitable for wheelchair users whilst the face of the ramp will be clad in granite stone, closely matched to the original building. A sample of this stone can be provided to the Planning department for approval as part of a planning Condition, should this application be successful.

In addition to providing wheelchair friendly access to the South Entrance, the applicant would like to provide handrails to either side of the entrance door to the West Elevation. These rails will be anodised aluminium to match the entrance ramp and will be fixed into the stone walling to either side of the door opening. A concrete pad will be cast below ground level to provide a suitable fixing point for the base of the handrail, which can then be covered with stone chippings as per the existing walkway.

The applicant would like to introduce low level lighting to the new entrance ramp and planters. This illumination will take the form of recessed light fittings installed into the underside of the handrail profile, however a fully designed scheme has yet to be prepared. A specialist lighting design will be provided to the Planning department for approval as part of a planning Condition, should this application be successful. This method of under handrail lighting has been installed in the handrail system used at Port Erin Railway Station.

As part of the planning submission documents, an artist impression (visualisation) of the proposed ramp & balustrade system has been included for reference, see Appendix C.