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PLANNING OFFICER REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Application No. : 18/00992/D Applicant : Black Grace Cowley Limited Proposal : Installation of both illuminated and non-illuminated signage Site Address : 17 Orchard Street Port Erin Isle of Man IM9 6AJ

Planning Officer: Miss Lucy Kinrade Photo Taken :

Site Visit :

Expected Decision Level : Officer Delegation

Recommendation

Recommended Decision:

Permitted Date of Recommendation: 10.12.2018 __

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 illuminated sign hereby granted consent shall not be lit by an intermittent source.

Reason: In the interests of amenity and/or public safety.

Plans/Drawings/Information:

This approval relates to location plan, elevation drawings, 2 x photographs of proposed elevations and written details of proposed signage all date stamped and received 20/09/2018, and an email including an image of the illuminated sign already in situ dated 10/12/2018.

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Interested Person Status - Additional Persons

none __

Officer’s Report

1.0 THE SITE 1.1 The application site is the curtilage of existing building 17 Orchard Street, Port Erin located near the corner where Orchard Road meets Station Road and adjacent to the Station Public House. The existing flat roof unit sits at the end of the row with a small access lane

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running to the south and behind the buildings fronting Station Road. The building is clad in a dark grey stone.

1.2 The unit is located within the proposed Conservation Area of Port Erin.

2.0 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 Proposed is the installation of two areas of signage to the front and side elevation.

2.2 Sign 1: The front elevation signage is to be a black vinyl board sitting above the front door and shop window. This board is to be approx. 4600mm long and 600mm tall and fitted with white acrylic letters approx. 388mm tall spelling out 'blackgracecowley' adjacent to which will sit a 400mm square red logo. This sign is to be non-illuminated.

2.3 Sign 2: The side elevation corner facing the rear lane is to have an 800mm x 865mm back lit light box featuring the red business logo. The top of the light box will sit 2.8m above the ground. This sign is to have back lit illumination and is to be timed to turn off around midnight.

3.0 PLANNING HISTORY 3.1 The most relevant application for this site is PA 18/00690/C for the change of use of part of shop from retail (class 1) to financial and professional services (class 2) which was approved in August 2018.

3.2 In terms of previous applications a similar application for both illuminated and non- illuminated signage was approved on an adjacent building under PA 16/00931/D.

4.0 PLANNING POLICY 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site lies within an area designated on the Port Erin Local Plan of 1990 as 'Mixed Use'. It is also within the "Proposed Port Erin Conservation Area" as identified on the Area Plan for the South 2013.

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 Policy 6 and Environment Policy 37 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 which state:

4.4 General Policy 6:

"Within our towns and villages, the display of external advertisements will be permitted on the site or building to which they relate provided they: (a) are of a high standard of design and materials and relate well to the building and site on which they are to be displayed; (b) are in keeping with and do not detract from the surrounding area; and (c) are located so as not to cause a highway safety hazard."

4.5 Environment Policy 37:

"As a general policy, advertisements within Conservation Areas will be permitted only if: i) the proposal preserves or enhances the Conservation Area; ii) the signage is in a style appropriate to the character of the area;

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iii) traditional materials and finishes are used and glossy and highly reflective materials are excluded from proposals; and iv) internally illuminated box fascia and projecting box signs are excluded from the proposals."

5.0 REPRESENTATIONS Copies of representations received can be viewed on the government's website. This report contains summaries only.

5.1 Port Erin Commissioners o Deferral (dated 25/09/2018) o Support (dated 12/10/2018)

5.2 Department of Infrastructure (DOI) Highways Division o DNOC - Do not oppose subject to condition (dated 02/11/2018) o Luminance levels of the proposed box sign need to be provided to ensure that it will not distract passing traffic.

5.3 Neighbours' views o No comments received.

6.0 ASSESSMENT 6.1 The surrounding area is predominantly characterised by retail and commercial units with a mix of shop front and signage boards both of illuminated and non-illuminated design. The installation of the proposed signage here would likely have a negligible impact on the appearance of the street scene and would not detract from the general character of the Conservation Area.

6.2 Both areas of signage are considered to be acceptable in terms of form and finish, and are appropriately sized to ensure that they do not overwhelm the front and side elevations of the units. Although box signs are generally to be avoided, this sign is relatively small size and located on the side elevation. The sign is not prominent and is likely to have a negligible impact on the appearance of this mixed use town centre location.

6.3 The front elevation sign is not illuminated and its location is not expected to distract passing motorists or to cause any highway safety hazards.

6.4 The boxed sign for the side elevation however is to be back lit. Concern was raised by Highway Services with regards to the brightness of this sign and its potential for causing distraction to passing traffic and consequential highway safety issues. The agent was contacted and sought to provide additional information with regards to the sign. The agent provided an image of the sign already in situ and illuminated.

6.5 This level of luminance is not so far removed from those streetlights in the immediate area and when compared against other illuminated signage within the town centre. The proposed back lit illumination is not considered to be of such a level as to cause distraction to passing motorist or to the amenity of any neighbouring residents.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION 7.1 For the above reasons it is considered that the proposal complies with The Control of Advertisements Regulations 2013 and is also in accordance with General Policy 6 and Environment Policy 37 of the IOM Strategic Plan. The application is therefore recommended that the application be approved.

8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS

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8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2013, the following persons are automatically interested persons: (a) The applicant, or if there is one, the applicant's agent; (b) The owner and the occupier of any land that is the subject of the application or any other person in whose interest the land becomes vested; (c) Persons to whom notice has been given under regulation 10(3)(a)(i) (d) Any Government Department that has made written submissions relating to planning considerations with respect to the application that the Department considers material; (e) The Highways Division of the Department of Infrastructure; (f) The Ports Division of the Department of Infrastructure; (g) The operator of the railway or tramway; and (h) The local authority in whose district the land the subject of the application is situated. __

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.

Decision Made : Permitted

Date: 11.12.2018

Determining officer

Signed : S CORLETT Sarah Corlett

Principal Planner

Customer note

This copy of the officer report reflects the content of the file copy and has been produced in this form for the benefit of our online services/customers and archive records.