APL Planning Statement

Heathwall

Heathwall Limited

Peregrine House Peel Road Douglas Isle of Man

IM1 5EH

Telephone 01624 621 280

---

Planning and Building Control Directorate Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture (DEFA) Murray House, Mount Havelock,

Douglas,

IM1 2SF

10th March 2023

---

Dear Sirs

37 - 41 Circular Road Douglas

We are seeking an extension to the current use of the site, known as 37 - 41 Circular Road, as temporary car parking. It has previously been documented that the site is a development site in waiting after we spent some years acquiring No's 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 and it is not our intention to have the site designated as permanent car parking. The issues we are still dealing with are as follows:-

1. Unfortunately the aftermath of the covid situation has meant there has been an extremely limited market for office space in Douglas. With no firm evidence of demand for new space in the centre of Douglas we have not been in a position to progress with our application. In time we would hope to see this position improve and in the meantime there is certainly demand for parking in this vicinity with our multi storey car park full on short term let's and with a waiting list. Taking away the current facility will therefore only put more pressure on local parking.

1. In our view it is likely that the Manx Development Corporation (an Isle of Man Government body) are going to further dilute the office market by seeking approval for a substantial office development in Demesne Road, Douglas (refurbishment of Crookall House). Compared to the established office area in Circular Road this is predominantly a residential area. We are currently seeing office values drop in locations peripheral to prime town centre locations due to the abundance of second hand vacant space in the centre.

1. If we are permitted to continue use as temporary parking, this is likely to prevent the major issue of fly tipping which we suffered some years ago when it was an open site. Fridges, sofas and all sorts of general rubbish was dumped here. It looked an eye sore, was expensive to clear, almost impossible to monitor and became a dangerous play area for local children.

However, once the site was in regular use for parking, the fly tipping stopped and we gained and kept control of the site. Whilst we did install a fence to

---

Directors: Richard Daly, Kenneth Hegarty

Company Registration No 79080C

improve site appearance along Circular Road this would now act as a shield for fly tipping etc to begin again.

1. We should mention that we are not holding the site with the intention of a future sale - we do want to see it developed. We have a proven track record in the immediate vicinity having built Eagle Court (25 - 69 Circular Road), Evergreen House (43 Circular Road) MicroGaming (83 Circular Road), the multi storey car park (just off Circular Road, bounded by Westmoreland Road), as well as significant office buildings a little further away in St Georges Street (Samuel Harris House) and Hope Street.
2. We have demonstrated our commitment to the development of this site, in that our very clear intention by building the multi story car park opposite was to provide the car parking for the site ahead of its construction.

In the light of our comments we very much hope you will look favourably on our application to continue to use the site for temporary car parking for a further 3 years.

Thank you for your further consideration.

Yours faithfully

Kin Hita

pp. Richard P Daly

Director

Map of Applicant Associated Developments