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                                      23/00627/B                                     Page  1  of  4

PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Application No. : 23/00627/B Applicant : Mr & Mrs Paul & Joanne Corran Proposal : Installation of replacement p.v.c door to composite door to front elevation Site Address : 12 Wesley Terrace Douglas Isle Of Man IM1 3HF

Planning Officer: Mr Hamish Laird Photo Taken : 16.07.2023 Site Visit : 16.07.2023 Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted Date of Recommendation: 01.08.2023 __

Conditions and Notes for Approval

C : Conditions for approval N : Notes attached to conditions

C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.

Reason: To comply with Article 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.

This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The application has been considered against Section 18(4) of the Town and Country Planning Act (1999), Policies GP 2b), c), d) and e); and Environment Policy 35 in the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016.

Plans/Drawings/Information;

This approval relates to the submitted documents and photographs all received on 30th May, 2023. __

Interested Person Status - Additional Persons

None. __

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE APPLICATION SITE

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1.1 The application site is the residential curtilage of 12 Wesley Terrace, a two storey mid terraced dwelling sited on the northern side of Wesley Terrace in Douglas. The site also lies within the Woodbourne Road Conservation Area.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL

2.1 This current planning application seeks approval for the replacement of the front entrance door from the existing white uPVC door, to a black uPVC door of a solid design with similar solid side panel, with both the door and side panel having fixed glazing lights above them.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY

3.1 There are previous planning applications relating to the property: 98/02146/B - Installation of uPVC windows to replace existing, 12 Wesley Terrace, Douglas - Permitted - 28/4/99. 16/01212/LAW - Application to make lawful chimney stack alterations - Certificate of Lawfulness AGREED - 7/12/2016. 17/00302/B - Installation of a replacement rear door - Permitted - 19/4/2017.

4.0 PLANNING POLICY

4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site is in an area zoned as Predominantly Residential under the Douglas Local Plan 1998. The application site is within the Woodbourne Road Conservation Area.

4.2 In terms of strategic plan policy, the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains two policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of this current planning application:

General Policy 2 states: "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: (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 affect adversely the amenity of local residents or the character of the locality; (e) is designed having due regard to best practice in reducing energy consumption."

Environmental Policy 35 states: "Within Conservation Areas, the department will permit only development which would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Area, and will ensure that the special features contributing to the character and quality are protected against inappropriate development."

This echoes the policies of Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man.

Section 18(4) of the Town and Country Planning Act (1999) states, "(4) Where any area is for the time being a conservation area, special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing its character or appearance in the exercise, with respect to any buildings or other land in the area, of any powers under this Act".

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5.0 REPRESENTATIONS

5.1 Douglas Borough Council has no objection. 7.6.2023.

5.2 DOI Highways - no highways implications. 6.6.2023.

6.0 ASSESSMENT

6.1 Environment Policy 35 and Section 18(4) sets out the policy and the statutory test in regards to development within a Conservation Area. The policy states that development would only be permitted within a Conservation Area if the development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area and the area is protected against inappropriate development.

6.2 With the appearance of many buildings strongly influenced by the detailing of their windows and doors; the replacement of the existing white uPVC door with two glazed upper half sections either side of the central transom with a modern black uPVC door would generally be considered unacceptable especially within a Conservation Area. uPVC doors in particular can appear unsympathetic as they do not have the same degree of texture and warmth as wood. With this application the door is to the front of the property and is visible from the street. Following a discussion with the Conservation Officer it was considered that the new door and side panel was an improvement on the previously fitted door. There is only one original door left on this side of the street.

6.3 As such it is not considered to specifically contribute to the overall character of the conservation area and while it would not enhance the overall area, it is considered that the replacement door and panel contribute to the preservation of the character and appearance of the Conservation Area through good building maintenance.

6.4 Therefore, it is considered that the proposal is acceptable in that it does not detract from the existing appearance and character of the dwellinghouse or Woodbourne Road Conservation Area and does not conflict with the requirements of Environment Policy 35.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION 7.1 On the basis of the above it is recommended that the planning application be permitted.

8.0 PARTY STATUS INTERESTED PERSON STATUS 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order 2019, the following persons are automatically interested persons: (a) the applicant (including an agent acting on their behalf); (b) any Government Department that has made written representations that the Department considers material; (c) the Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure; (d) Manx National Heritage where it has made written representations that the Department considers material; (e) Manx Utilities where it has made written representations that the Department considers material; (f) the local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated; and (g) a local authority adjoining the authority referred to in paragraph (f) where that adjoining authority has made written representations that the Department considers material.

8.2 The decision maker must determine: o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than the Department of Infrastructure Highway Services Division) are material; and

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o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should be given Interested Person Status.

8.3 The Department of Environment Food and Agriculture is responsible for the determination of planning applications. As a result, where officers within the Department make comments in a professional capacity they cannot be given Interested Person Status. __

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.

Decision Made : Permitted

Date: 04.08.2023

Determining officer

Signed : C BALMER

Chris Balmer

Principal Planner

Customer note

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