11 September 2018 · Head of Development Management (Stephen Butler)
2, Victoria Road, Port St. Mary, Isle Of Man, IM9 5af
The proposal involved installing a new composite front door with sidelights and a toplight, changing the glazing style by removing solid panels beside the door, reducing the fanlight width, adding decorated glass panels and a semi-circular glazed feature above, all in a light turquoise colour.
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The officer assessed whether the proposed replacement door and surrounds would adversely affect the character and appearance of the property and surrounding area, particularly in a proposed Conservati…
Environment Policy 35
EP35 requires development in Conservation Areas to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of areas of special architectural or historic interest. The officer tested the door replacement against this, finding it would fail due to not replicating the existing details, proportions, depth, and uniformity of the original timber surrounds shared across the terrace. The Character Appraisal highlights negative impacts from inappropriate door replacements.
Planning Policy Statement 1/01 - Conservation of the Historic Environment of the Isle of Man
Provides guidance on Conservation Areas, requiring preservation or enhancement of character. The proposal was assessed as detracting from the terraces' historic uniformity and detailing, with modern features like the semi-circular glazing and colour not matching traditional elements noted in the appraisal.
no objections to the application (23.08.18)
Port St Mary Commissioners responded with no objections to the replacement front door installation at 2 Victoria Road, Port St Mary.
Port St Mary Commissioners
No ObjectionNo objections
The original application for installation of a replacement front door with sidelights and toplight at 2 Victoria Road, Port St Mary was refused by the Planning and Building Control Division primarily due to harm to the character and appearance of the property and surrounding area in a proposed Conservation Area. The appellant argued that similar uPVC replacements exist on neighbouring properties, some with approval, and the design replicates Victorian style with a period colour. The inspector found the submitted image not to scale, the curved fanlight atypical of Victorian design, and the proposal failing to match the existing door's proportions and detailing, contrary to GP2. Despite acknowledging uPVC could be acceptable if properly designed, the proposal was deemed harmful to the townscape. The Minister accepted the inspector's recommendation to dismiss the appeal on 8 January 2019.
Precedent Value
This appeal demonstrates that in proposed Conservation Areas, replacement doors must precisely match existing Victorian proportions and detailing, even in uPVC; non-scaled submissions risk dismissal, and prior inappropriate approvals do not justify further harm.
Inspector: Anthony J Wharton
