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Application No.: 25/91175/D Applicant: Mr Leo Scarfe Proposal: Erection of new and replacement illuminated and non- illuminated signage and window graphics (Amendments to 25/90658/D) Site Address: Marks And Spencer Department Store 7 Drumgold Street Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 2SP Principal Planner: Chris Balmer Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 17.02.2026 _________________________________________________________________
C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions
C 1. The advertisement(s) hereby granted consent shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this notice.
Reason: To avoid the accumulation of unimplemented advertisement consents. This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason.
The proposal is not considered to harm the character of the area. It is considered to comply with General Policy 2 and General Policy 6 of the Strategic Plan. Therefore, it is recommended for an approval.
Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to the submitted documents and drawing all received on 15.01.2026. _________________________________________________________________ Interested Person Status None _________________________________________________________________ Officer’s Report
1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The site is 7 Drumgold Street, a multi-storey building riding over Drumgold Street. It is east of Market Street, north of Wellington Street and west of Duck Street. The building features a retail section on the bottom levels and a car park on the top levels.
1.2 Marks and Spencer occupies the retail section. It has three main pedestrian entrances:
1.3 There are advertisements on every elevation. Majority of the windows on the ground floor are covered in advertisement. There are four illuminated signage, one above or near each of the main entrances, the last one is above the entrance to the car par on Nelson Street.
2.0 The PROPOSAL - 2.1 The proposed is the erection of new and replacement illuminated and non-illuminated signage and window graphics (Amendments to 25/90658/D). - 2.2 The applicants state: "Amends to 25/90658/D. Sign 1 deleted. Second No 2 sign added. No 2-5 are illuminated signs replacing existing M&S illuminated box signs, white flex frontage, black aluminium perimeter frame. Signs 6, 7, 12 removed. Signs 8 - 21 full height vinyl graphics applied to existing glazing and cut around frames - graphics TBC. Signs 22 and 23 replace existing illuminated M&S pillar signs with new illuminated M&S qualifiers, black, non illuminated. Signs 24 & 25 are black facia replacing existing."
3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 Installation of replacement store signage was APPROVED under PA 15/01151/D. A condition states: "The signs hereby granted consent shall not be lit by an intermittent source. Reason: In the interests of amenity and/or public safety." - 3.2 Erection of new and replacement illuminated signage and window graphics 25/90658/D - APPROVED
4.0 PLANNING POLICY Site Specific - 4.1 The site is within an area designated as Mixed Use (Strand Street) in the Area Plan for the East. Strategic Policy - 4.2 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains the following policies that are considered materially relevant to the assessment of this current planning application:
PPS and NPD
4.3 There is no planning policy statement or national policy directive that is considered materially relevant to this application.
5.0 OTHER MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS Strategy and Guidance - 5.1 There is no strategy or guidance considered materially relevant to this application.
6.0 REPRESENTATION - 6.1 Douglas City Council have no objection (02.02.2026).
7.0 ASSESSMENT Elements of Assessment - 7.1 The key considerations in the determination of the application are its impact on the character and appearance of the Area. The proposal are very similar to the previous approval the two main differences being the omitting of sign 1 and inclusion of signs 24 and 25 which are new black powder coated fascia panel to replace the previous sign to the east elevation (duke street).
7.2 Once again, the advertisements relate to the company occupying the building. The illumination is letters only (Halo lit) so its impact is low, as well as replacing existing illuminated lighting. The signage and its illumination are considered to be of a standard design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed and fit within the building itself.
8.0 CONCLUSION - 8.1 The proposal is not considered to harm the character of the area. It is considered to comply with General Policy 2 and General Policy 6 of the Strategic Plan. Therefore, it is recommended for an approval.
9.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS - 9.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following persons are automatically interested persons:
9.2 The decision-maker must determine: o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than those
explicitly listed above) are material; and
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 and/or rights to appeal.
Decision Made : Permitted Date: 19.02.2026 Determining Officer Signed : J SINGLETON Jason Singleton Principal Planner
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