26 February 2026 · Delegated
Flat 1, Sea Front, Promenade, Port Erin, Isle Of Man, IM9 6le
This application sought permission to use three existing self-contained tourist apartments at the rear of Kittiwake House, Port Erin — Flats 1, 3 and 5 — as permanent residential dwellings in addition to their existing tourist use. The application was refused on 26 February 2026 by a delegated Principal Planner. The key reason was that the apartments would not provide an acceptable standard of amenity for future residents. All windows, including those serving the main rooms, face either a neighbouring outrigger or the rear of the site, leaving occupants with no pleasant or clear outlook. The officer's report noted that the site does include provision for clothes washing and drying, and refuse storage in the rear yard, but these practical features were not sufficient to overcome the fundamental concern about outlook and residential amenity.
The application was refused because the proposed apartments would have all their windows, including those in the main rooms, facing either a neighbouring outrigger or the rear of the site. This means future residents would have no pleasant or clear outlook, which falls short of the required standard for satisfactory residential amenity.
Refusal Reasons
Housing Policy 17
Housing Policy 17: The conversion of buildings into flats will generally be permitted in residential areas provided that: (a) adequate space can be provided for clothes -drying, refuse storage, general amenity, and, if practical, car-parking; (b) the flats created will have a pleasant clear outlook, particularly from the principal rooms and (c) if possible, this involves the creation of parking on site or as part of an overall traffic management strategy for the area. 8.13.4 In recent years, interest has grown in the development of residential dwellings from redundant commercial space, primarily above shops. In the United Kingdom, inspira tion for such development came from the LOTS initiative (Living Over The Shop) started in 1989 and the FOS programme (Flats Over the Shop), set up in 1991. The Department generally supports the conversion of redundant storage space above shops (which are often outside of residential areas), into residential development unless the occupants would suffer adverse noise, general disturbance or loss of residential amenity from other land uses. 8.14 Loss of Housing 8.14.1 In the current housing situation, the Department is concerned to ensure that there is no unwarranted loss of existing housing which is fit for habitation or could be made so at reasonable cost.
General Policy 2 (h)
GP 2 (h)
