105963

Department of Food, Environment & Agriculture Planning and Building Control Directorate Murray House Mount Havelock DOUGLAS IM1 3SF

9th May 2018

Dear Sir/Madam

Ref: Planning Application PA. 18/00323/C. – 10 Malew Street Castletown IM9 1AB

I write regarding the above application to register my strong objection to the proposed change of use of the ground floor of this retail outlet, to allow it to be used for office use.

I note that the application is to have the ground floor use changed to permit it to be used for an office or for retail. I have no objection to the present planning status remaining as use for retail however, I strongly object to the ground floor of these premises being permitted to be used for office purposes.

I believe it is critical for the survival of retailing in Castletown to maintain the ground floor use of all the present retail properties, including 10 Malew Street, located within the block-paved pedestrianised areas of Malew Street and Arbory Street, and that they should have their ground floor usage safeguarded for ‘retail use only’.

This category includes such ground floor areas being used for food outlets, which are I believe to be compatible with and enhances retailing in Castletown.

If this application for the change proposed is approved there is no doubt that it will be used, due to profitable benefits, for office purposes.

I am aware that the ground floor of 10 Malew Street has now been empty for a few years, however the letting of the property is totally in the hands of the owner. If it is a planning requirement that the ground floor can only be used as a retail outlet, it is then for the owner to either ensure it is used as such, and thus provide income for the owner; if however the owner decides for whatever reason, not to secure its use as a retail outlet, then the loss of income to the owner is a matter of that owners choice. This should not be a matter for the planners to consider by permitting a change of use as is now being proposed by the owner of No 10 Malew Street.

I would urge/...

I would urge the planners to be firm and safeguard the present policy of ground floor usage of properties located within the block-paved pedestrianised areas of Malew Street and Arbory Street being only for retail use. I believe it is of critical importance to the future retailing sector of Castletown that a robust planning policy is maintained to help secure Castletown retaining a viable and diverse retail sector.

The owner of 10 Malew Street has owned the property for many years and is fully aware of the planning policy that the ground floor usage of the property is for retail use only, and that the upper floors can be used for office or residential use, a policy that has been in place for decades. It is a matter solely for the owner of the property to provide an acceptable and attractive opportunity to enable successful retailing to exist within the premises.

If Castletown is to continue to have the opportunity to retain a viable retail sector within its historical town centre, then the present long-standing planning policy should be protected regardless of any so called 'commercial interest', which is not a matter for planning. It is most important for planning and the planners to protect the long term 'public interest' by safeguarding our towns small retail area.

It is of paramount importance that owners of such properties know that there is a firm planning policy in place for securing retailing within Castletown's historic town centre, and that their properties can only be used at ground floor level for retailing, and that such a planning policy is defended robustly by the planners. Unless such a planning policy is safeguarded we will see the gradual erosion of retailing in places like Castletown to the point where the critical mass is reduced to an unsustainable level, which would result in our retailing town and village centres across the Island being lost. Such a change would not be in the public, nor the Island's interest, and it is therefore paramount that our Islands planning policy should protect and defend the public and Island interest.

I therefore would strongly urge the planners to refuse the application for the reasons I have outlined above, and thereby help to secure the towns retail sector now, and for future generations.

Yours faithfully

Tony Brown

Cc: Castletown Town Commissioners