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Application No.: 19/01274/B Applicant: Manx Utilities Authority Proposal: Installation of a heat pump to replace existing boiler Site Address: The Fairways Rowany Drive Port Erin Isle Of Man IM9 6LN Planning Officer: Mr Peiran Shen Photo Taken: 18.12.2019 Site Visit: 18.12.2019 Expected Decision Level: Officer Delegation Recommended Decision: Permitted Date of Recommendation: 30.01.2020 _________________________________________________________________
C : Conditions for approval
C 1. The development hereby approved shall be begun before the expiration of four years from the date of this decision notice.
Reason: To comply with article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No2) Order 2013 and to avoid the accumulation of unimplemented planning approvals.
This approval relates to the following submitted documents and drawings date-stamped as having been received on 12th November 2019: Location Plan, Site Plan and Product Information. _______________________________________________________________
None _____________________________________________________________________________
1.0 THE SITE - 1.1 The application site is the commercial curtilage of The Fairways, Rowany Drive, Port Erin, a two-storey, detached house located at the south side of the Rowany Drive.
2.1 The current planning application seeks approval for the installation of an air source heat pump (ASHP) to generate renewable heating for the building. The air source heat pump would be 1.02m wide, 0.41m deep and 1.35m in height. The ASHP would be located to the rear of the office, about 2.5m from the boundary of Euleceda (approx. 3m away from the dwelling). - 2.2 Noise levels provided by the product specifications submitted indicate that the noise emitted by the unit would be 53db at 1-metre pressure level.
3.0 PLANNING HISTORY - 3.1 There is no past planning application considered being material relevant to this application.
4.0 PLANNING POLICY - 4.1 In terms of local plan policy, the application site is within an area for Predominately Residential Use in the Area Plan for the South. - 4.2 The Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 contains a few policies that are considered specifically material to the assessment of the planning application: - 4.3 The Strategic Objectives of the Strategic Plan provides a framework for the detailed policies and it sets the following objectives: "3.2 Resources
3.3 Environment (g) to minimize environmental pollution to air, water and land" - 4.4 Strategic Policy 5 states: "New development, including individual buildings, should be designed so as to make a positive contribution to the environment of the Island."
4.5 General Policy 2 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan states: "Development which is in accordance with the land-use zoning and proposals in the
appropriate Area Plan and with other policies of this Strategic Plan will normally be permitted, provided that the development:
4.6 General Policy 3 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 states: "Development will not be permitted outside of those areas which are zoned for development on the appropriate Area Plan." - 4.7 Environment Policy 1 from the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016 states: "The countryside and its ecology will be protected for its own sake. For the purposes of this policy, the countryside comprises all land which is outside the settlements defined in Appendix
3 at A.36 or which is not designated for future development on the Area Plan. Development which would adversely affect the countryside will not be permitted."
4.8 Environment Policy 23 states: "When considering alterations and improvements to existing facilities, the Department will require that consideration be given to the potential adverse impact of the proposed changes to existing neighbours."
4.9 The Strategic Plan also provides guidance on the installation of renewable energy apparatus (12.2.8) which states: "The Department is fully supportive of the need to secure greater energy efficiency in new and existing development ……At the same time, the Department recognizes that renewable energy sources can have adverse environmental impacts. ……There may also be other impacts such as noise…… The Department will assess any proposals … by weighing the benefits of using such renewable energy sources against the environmental impact arising in any particular site." - 4.10 Accordingly it is required to assess Energy Policy 4 of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan 2016, which states: "Development involving alternative sources of energy supply, including wind, water and tide power, and the use of solar panels, will be judged against the environmental objectives and policies set out in this Plan."
5.1 Port Erin Commissioners has supported this application (10/12/2019).
5.3 DoI Highway Services do not oppose this application (05/12/2019). - 6.0 ASSESSMENT
6.1 The key issue relates to the potential impact (noise) on neighbouring amenities by the development and the potential visual impacts upon the amenities of the countryside.
6.2 The proposed ASHP is promoting the reduce consumption of fossil fuels and therefore positively contribution to SP 5 and should be encouraged. The ASHP generally has higher energy efficiency than typical modern boilers and therefore also fits in GP2 (n).
6.3 According to EP 23, the addition of noise is a material consideration. The units would be located to the west of the dwelling and would be 2.5m away from the closest residential property. Accordingly, the proposal may have some impact on neighbouring property. - 6.4 In terms of noise impact, the sound pressure level 1m away from the pump is expected to be around 53dB. For reference, 50dB is similar to the noise generated by light traffic, 60dB that of normal conversation or an air conditioner. There will be a background noise generated from the unit but it's expected that the noise levels and impact will be low and not likely to have a detrimental impact on the living conditions or amenity of the neighbours. - 6.5 In relation to the potential visual impact upon the area, given its location to the side of the property and distance to the nearest public vantage point, the proposal would not be apparent from the adjacent highway. It would be visible for the neighbour but the impact is acceptable as it does not stand out nor does it facing any habitable room window.
7.1 Overall, it is considered that the overall level of development contained within the proposal is relatively modest and in keeping with the character of the dwelling, with suitably limited impact on the neighbouring properties. As such the proposal does not adversely affect public or private amenity and is therefore in accordance with the relevant IOM Strategic Plan polices and therefore recommended for approval. - 8.0 INTERESTED PERSON STATUS
8.1 By virtue of the Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (No 2) Order 2013 (Article 6(4), the following persons are automatically interested persons:
8.2 The decision-maker must determine:
I can confirm that this decision has been made by the Head of Development Management in accordance with the authority afforded to that Officer by the appropriate DEFA Delegation.
Decision Made : Permitted Date : 30.01.2020 Determining officer
Signed : S BUTLER Stephen Butler Head of Development Management
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