14 July 2023 · Delegated - Principal Planner Chris Balmer
Kingdom Hall Of Jehovahs Witnesses, Belmont Hill, Douglas, Isle Of Man, IM1 4nt
The proposal involves the retrospective approval for two 4.6m tall LED lights in the southern car park of Kingdom Hall, one near the entrance west of the driveway and the other 8m southeast of the building.
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The officer assessed that the lights would not unacceptably harm the site's characteristics or surrounding character, as they are minor additions contained within the site by boundary walls and mature…
General Policy 2
Requires development to respect site/surroundings in siting/layout/scale/design/landscaping, avoid adverse character/landscape impacts, protect wildlife/habitats, safeguard amenity, ensure highway safety, and avoid flood risk. Officer found compliance as lights are minor, contained by landscaping, face inwards, no amenity/highway harm, and no flood exacerbation despite site risk.
Environmental Policy 22
Prohibits development causing unacceptable harm via light pollution or amenity impacts; para 7.17.2 highlights security lighting risks. Assessed acceptable due to inward-facing hooded lights, limited hours, mature boundary screening, and DEFA endorsement minimising spill to neighbours/trees.
Strategic Policy 4
Requires protection/enhancement of landscape/nature conservation, especially near designations, and no unacceptable pollution/disturbance. Proposal accords as no significant impact on adjacent tree areas (lights away from boundaries), limited use reduces wildlife disturbance, supported by biodiversity consultee.
Environment Policy 23
Requires consideration of adverse impacts on neighbours from alterations to existing facilities. No adverse neighbour impacts found due to design and screening.
Lighting installation details
All external lighting proposed within the scheme shall be installed in accordance with the specifications and locations set out in the Light Details and Site Plan showing light positions, submitted as part of the application. No other external lighting shall be installed without prior express consent from the Department.
No Highway Interest
no objection to the application
no objection provided lighting installed as detailed; notes hooded design facing away from boundaries, timer use, recommends warm white LED option for bats but accepts neutral white
Douglas Borough Council, Highway Services HDC, and DEFA Ecosystem Policy Officer all raised no objections to application 23/00633/B, with the ecosystem response including recommendations for lighting specifications.
Douglas Borough Council
No ObjectionDouglas Borough Council has no objections
Highway Services HDC
No ObjectionHighway Services HDC has no interest (NHI) in: 23/00633/B
DEFA Ecosystem Policy Officer
Conditional No Objectionprovided the lighting is installed as is detailed in the documents titled Light Detail, and Pole Detail and Beam Angle Drawings, that we have no objection to the lighting from a wildlife perspective.; it would also be our recommendation that this warm white LED is used as it is less impactful on bats which are very likely to be using the boundary features for feeding and commuting.
Conditions requested: lighting is installed as is detailed in the documents titled Light Detail, and Pole Detail and Beam Angle Drawings; warm white (3000K) LED is used as it is less impactful on bats
