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23/00941/D Page 1 of 4
PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Application No. : 23/00941/D Applicant : The Salvation Army Proposal : Installation of illuminated signage above wind lobby and entrance canopy Site Address : The Salvation Army Douglas Corps Ballacottier Crescent Braddan IM2 2QZ
Planning Officer: Miss Lucy Kinrade Photo Taken : Site Visit : Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation
Recommendation
Recommended Decision:
Permitted Date of Recommendation: 26.10.2023 __
Conditions and Notes for Approval
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.
C 2. The signs hereby granted consent shall not be lit by an intermittent source.
Reason: In the interests of amenity and/or public safety.
This application has been recommended for approval for the following reason. The application would accord with The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013, as well as meeting with the principles of General Policies 6, 7 and 8 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016.
Plans/Drawings/Information; This approval relates to the following information:
drawing numbers 004A, 007, 008 Site photographs Lighting details email dated 27/09/20023
drawing numbers 001A, 003 and 006
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23/00941/D Page 2 of 4
Interested Person Status - Additional Persons
None __
Officer’s Report
1.0 THE SITE 1.1 Site relates to existing building and recently constructed extension occupied by the Salvation Army, within the IOM Business Park.
2.0 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 Proposed is the installation to areas of signage on to the front of the building, one comprising a large logo of the occupier of the building, and the other comprising the same logo on a smaller scale alongside individual lettering of the name of the building occupier.
2.2 The large logo measures 1.5m tall x 1.29m wide x 0.25m deep.
2.3 The smaller logo and individual lettering measures a combined area at most 450mm high x 3.7m wide. The depth of the logo and lettering being 0.25 mm deep.
2.4 Both sections of signage are to be illuminated by adjustable linear uplighters, specification details provided indicate a luminance levels and the size of each being 400mm long.
3.0 PLANNING HISTORY 3.1 There have been a number of similar signage applications across the wider Business Park area considered material in this application, including 18/00017/B.
4.0 PLANNING POLICY 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site lies within an area designated on the Area Plan for the East 2020 as 'industrial'.
4.2 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make it clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar.
4.3 In addition to The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 we may also consider General Policies 6 and 7 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016. These policies cover advertisements in both town and village centres.
5.0 REPRESENTATIONS Copies of representations received can be viewed on the government's website. This report contains summaries only.
5.1 Braddan Commissioners - comments (04/09/2023) the new lighting should feature down lighters rather than uplighters to reduce the impact of light pollution.
5.2 Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highway Services - No highways interest (18/08/2023).
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23/00941/D Page 3 of 4
6.0 ASSESSMENT 6.1 The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 make clear that the only considerations which can be applied to applications made under them are in the interests of amenity and public safety. In the case of amenity, such things as the general characteristics of the area need to be taken into account along with the presence of any features of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest and the public safety should consider the safety of any person using a road, railway, tramway, harbour or aerodrome including the obscuration of any traffic sign or similar. Further to this paragraph 6.6.2 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016 makes clear that "within our towns and villages, well designed and sensitively sited advertisements can contribute positively to the character of a building or area, and can be of help to the general public. However, advertisements which are too bright, overlarge or poorly sited may endanger safety by distracting or confusing highway users and might, both individually and cumulatively, detract from amenity by being intrusive, by introducing clutter and visual confusion or by masking features of interest or attraction". Paragraph 6.6.3 furthers on this stating that "within rural areas, advertisements can be disruptive features which affect adversely the appearance of the landscape and the countryside. Lighting can pollute the night sky, and may be contrary to nature conservation interests".
6.2 The proposed signage within this application relates to the users of the building, and is considered acceptable and proportionate to the building in terms of its form, size and finish and is not overbearing. The use of a large logo on its own is both is prominent enough to be recognised without creating a distraction, and the combined smaller logo and individual letters fixed to the existing elevation has a similar easily recognisable and readable appearance. Both areas of signage are considered to be of appropriate design for this building and visually acceptable.
6.3 The application site is within an existing business park where there is already a degree of illumination of signage and existing streetlights. There are no hours of illumination stated within the application, although based on the additional lighting details the level of illumination is not expected to be so bright as to cause any visual distractions to passing vehicles, there are no houses in the immediate vicinity that will be impacted, and it is not considered to result in any increased light pollution beyond that lighting which already exists within this commercial area to cause concern or a refusal.
6.4 The signage is prominent enough to be noticeable from the highway without dominating the building or causing adverse impacts on the overall appearance of the business park. The light units are each 400mm long and their expected level of illumination is unlikely to result in such lighting levels as to distract users of the highway or cause any impacts on highway safety, and is not expected to be so adversely harmful as to create any significant light overspill minded of surrounding estate to cause significant harm.
7.0 CONCLUSION 7.1 Overall it is considered that the size, scale, siting and design of the signs would have no adverse visual or amenity harm to the public or public safety. The application would accord with The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013, as well as meeting with the principles of General Policies 6, 7 and 8 of the IOM Strategic Plan 2016.
7.2 General hours of illumination have been indicated as being at night times, but it is not considered necessary in this instance to add a condition restricting the hours of illumination given the established nature of the surrounding estate and illumination of the signs at any time is not expected to impact highways or the amenity of adjacent business premises or surrounding environment.
8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS 8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013 (As Amended), the following persons are automatically interested persons:
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o The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent; o Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material; o The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated. o the Highways, Ports and Railways divisions of the Department of Infrastructure.
8.2 The decision maker must determine: o whether any other comments from Government Departments (other than those explicitly listed above) are material; and o whether there are other persons to those listed above who should 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: 27.10.2023
Determining officer
Signed : J SINGLETON
Jason Singleton
Principal Planner
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